Mexico–Uruguay relations

Mexico-Uruguay relations

Mexico	Uruguay

Mexico–Uruguay relations are foreign relations between Mexico and Uruguay. Both countries established diplomatic relations on February 22, 1831. Mexico has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Mexico City and two honorary consulates in Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Both countries are full members of the Rio Group, of the Latin Union, of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, of the Organization of American States and of the Organization of Ibero-American States. Trade between the two countries was worth $180 million in 2000 but in 2008 had increased to $500 million.^[1]

In 2004, the countries signed a free trade agreement which was further advanced in 2009 when Uruguay hosted the Mexican President during a South American tour.

Assistance

Mexico and Uruguay have at various points assisted each other during difficulties. Exiles of Uruguay's 1973–1985 military dictatorship were welcomed into Mexico.^[1] When Mexico received much negative publicity following the outbreak of swine flu in 2009, Uruguay was said to have “never closed its doors to Mexico”.^[1]

Bilateral agreements

2004 free trade deal

In 2004, the two countries signed a unique free trade deal, normally outlawed by Mercosur, which prevents Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay from signing such deals as these with other nations.^[1]

2009 Strategic Association accord

On 14 August 2009, President of Mexico Felipe Calderón and President of Uruguay Tabaré Vázquez met in Montevideo.^[1] Calderón was on the second part of a South American tour,^[2] during which he also met President of Colombia Álvaro Uribe in a tour which also involved a visit to Brazil.^[1] In Montevideo, Calderón and Vázquez signed a deal which was intended to further advance the free trade agreement of 2004.^[1] It was said to have been worth $500 million.^[3] Deals concerning air connections, scientific research concerning Antarctica, education, tax avoidance and tax evasion, and "the protection, conservation, recovery and restitution of cultural assets which have been robbed or illicitly traded" were also signed.^[1][3] Calderón called the deal "a milestone in our bilateral relation, which brings our peoples closer and further promotes trade".^[1]

As well as signing these agreements, Calderón carried out several other functions during this visit to Uruguay. He participated in the Plan Ceibal, an initiative to provide laptops to schoolchildren and improve internet access, by visiting the school which was to receive the 300,000th laptop in this scheme.^[1] Following on from this, Calderón met Vice-President of Uruguay Rodolfo Nin Novoa and addressed the country's parliament,^[3] where he informed Uruguay that “a highly sensitive export issue for Uruguay, such as is beef, which has faced ongoing difficulties, as of now, following this visit, will be removed” and said he agreed with Colombia's decision to allow its military bases be opened to the United States.^[1] Calderon stayed in Uruguay for the weekend before leaving to visit Brazil.^[2]

See also

• Foreign relations of Mexico
• Foreign relations of Uruguay

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} "Mexico/Uruguay sign strategic association accord and advance trade". MercoPress. 2009-08-15. http://en.mercopress.com/2009/08/15/mexicouruguay-sign-strategic-association-accord-and-advance-trade. Retrieved 2009-08-16. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Mexican president leaves for official visit to S America". Xinhua News Agency. 2009-08-13. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/13/content_11873958.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-16. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Mexico, Uruguay sign strategic agreements". Xinhua News Agency. 2009-08-15. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/15/content_11885986.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-16. 

External links

• Mexican embassy in Montevideo (in Spanish only)