Mexico’s President Says He’ll Take Covid Test Two Days Before Meeting Trump
Mexico’s President Says He’ll Take Covid Test Two Days Before Meeting Trump
(Bloomberg) -- President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he’ll take a test for Covid-19 on Monday before flying to D.C. on Tuesday. He’ll take another test in the U.S. if it is requested of him before his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also invited to commemorate the USMCA trade agreement with Trump but he won’t be attending, said Lopez Obrador during his morning press conference. The main purpose of Lopez Obrador’s meeting with President Trump is the launching of the USMCA trade agreement.
Asked whether he will discuss other issues with Trump, like the treatment of migrants and whether the U.S. gun-running sting in Mexico known as Fast and Furious was done without the country’s knowledge, he said the USMCA is the main reason for the meeting.
“We will continue to boost a relationship of respect, cooperation and friendship with the American people and the U.S. government”
If there’s a good relationship with the U.S., Mexico will avoid mistreatment, he said. The U.S. government offered a hotel stay to him and his delegation as the White House visiting wing is currently being repaired. But AMLO said he will be staying at the Mexican embassy’s residence in Washington.
Other topics
- The president said the Economy Ministry won’t be left without computers due to austerity measures that include cutting 75% of budgets spent on supplies across the federal government. Local media reported that the Economy Ministry intended to remove computers from three out of four employees and request that they bring their own or rent their work computers. Lopez Obrador said whether the report was true or not, such drastic cuts won’t take place.
- “We are carrying out a republican austerity plan. It’s a matter of principle not an administrative one,” said Lopez Obrador
- Former Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya is waiting to be extradited to Mexico from Spain, and will be protected as he testifies in a corruption probe, the president said.
- The press conference can be seen here
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