Mexico’s economy minister resigns amid U.S. energy dispute
Mexican Economy Minister Tatiana Clouthier stepped down Thursday after co-leading talks with the U.S. and Canada to resolve a dispute over the Latin American country’s nationalist energy policies.
Clouthier tried to contain tears when reading her resignation letter during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s daily news conference, before quipping that the strain of the job including regularly attending the 7 a.m. briefings had worn her out.
“My capacity to contribute to the team is exhausted,” said Clouthier, who ran López Obrador’s presidential campaign ahead of his victory in 2018 and is seen as a centrist member of his Cabinet.
López Obrador said that he and Clouthier had discussed her possible departure in July and that she left on the best of terms. He plans to name her replacement Friday.
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The dispute under the North American free trade deal filed by the U.S. and Canada in July argues that Mexico discriminates against foreign companies trying to operate in the country. After 75 days of talks, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to extend consultations this week, putting off the prospect of a dispute resolution panel for now.
Clouthier’s departure is “unexpected and unfortunate” for the trade talks, said Veronica Ortiz, a political analyst and former head of the Mexican Council on Foreign Affairs. “It means that more radical elements of the Cabinet are prevailing, and this adds more uncertainty to the process.”
Clouthier, together with Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard, was leading a team of top Mexican officials working to resolve the dispute.
American tourists and remote workers are gentrifying some of Mexico City’s most treasured neighborhoods. Backlash is growing.
Clouthier’s brother Manuel said he hadn’t discussed the matter with his sister but speculated in a tweet that she quit over López Obrador’s push to give the army more influence in domestic security. She also leaves days after Mexico announced a pact with companies to waive import tariffs and health inspections in exchange for them bringing down prices of some food items.
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