During his brief visit President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reported today that Mexico will abolish its tariffs on various agricultural, meat and basic food products so that Belize can export to our country. “We have just reached an agreement with the Prime Minister (John Briceño) for Mexico to abolish its tariffs on products that Belize can export to our country,” he stated this Saturday.

In other words, it will be possible to export food, agricultural products, beef and other basic products to Mexico from Belize without paying taxes. “Tariffs are suspended. We are going to implement true free trade between our nations,” he said.

López Obrador stressed that commercial ties are part of the history of both nations and recalled the visits made to Chetumal, Quintana Roo, to buy products introduced by Belize, for which, he pointed out, after many years it was declared a free zone of payment of taxes to that nation and to the entire border.

In the message to the media, AMLO announced that Belize had joined the “Sembrando Vida” program and hoped that the relationship between the two nations would be strengthened. "Beyond the good links between Belize and Mexico, I maintain that it is necessary to advance in the continental integration of all America in our construction on the continent of a model similar to that of the European Economic Community," he said.

The Presidency of the Republic released a statement in which it reported that it was also agreed to "explore the development of the Escuela México program" in support of three educational institutions specialized in technical vocation that would be added to a campus in Corozal.

"Let no one exclude anyone"

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also congratulated Belize for the decision to regularize more than 40,000 migrants who live and work honestly, originating from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

He insisted that no nation should be excluded from the Summit of the Americas, to be held in June in Los Angeles, California, United States. “Let no one exclude anyone!” he raised.

President López Obrador arrived in Belize today where he began an official visit as part of his tour of Central America and the Caribbean. The president arrived at 12:55 p.m. Mexico City time at the Philip SW Goldson International Airport in Ladyville.

López Obrador, who arrived accompanied by his wife Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller, met with Prime Minister Juan Antonio Briceño at the "Laing Building".

Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and his Belizean counterpart Eamon Coutenay signed the letter of intent regarding Bilateral Cooperation for the initiative program called “Sembrando Vida”, in which the presidents of Mexico and Belize’s Prime Minister were witnesses of honor.

President López Obrador departed the Philip SW Goldson International Airport at 4:20 p.m. for Havana, Cuba, where he met with President Miguel Díaz-Canel.