How will Mexico's new president shake up NAFTA negotiations?
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said Mexico could survive the collapse of the deal
In a stunning victory, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been elected as Mexico's new president, all but guaranteeing sweeping changes for Mexicans.
The 64-year-old anti-establishment leftist secured a broad mandate in elections held on Sunday, after he promised major reforms in the fight against corruption, violence, and the restriction of individual and social freedoms.
For Canada, his victory could mean big changes for a key trading partner, in the midst of the NAFTA negotiations.
The Mexican President-Elect has been critical of NAFTA in the past. In June, he said Mexico could survive the collapse of the deal by focusing on internal markets instead.
But on Monday, Lopez Obrador told Milenio TV Mexico will seek to remain in NAFTA and that he respects the existing Mexican team renegotiating the trade pact.
- THE CURRENT | Should Canada ditch Mexico and go it alone with U.S.?
The Current's guest host Mike Finnerty speaks with three experts about how they expect Lopez Obrado will handle NAFTA going forward, and what that means for Canada.
- Genaro Lozano, columnist and professor of political science at Ibero-American University in Mexico
- Christopher Sands, professor and director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University
- Judith Teichman, professor of political science and international development at the University of Toronto
Listen to the full discussion near the top of this page.
This segment was produced by The Current's Kristin Nelson.