(2nd LD) Lee calls for resumption of trade pact negotiations with Mexico to elevate economic cooperation

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged for immediate resumption of trade agreement talks with Mexico, stating it will boost bilateral economic cooperation. This follows the president's visit to a South Korea-Mexico business forum in Mexico City. Mexico is South Korea's largest trading partner in Central and South America, while South Korea is Mexico's fifth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching US$20.6 billion last year.

Despite this, the two countries lack a comprehensive trade agreement. The president emphasized the need to strengthen the institutional framework and make a trade agreement a solid foundation for elevating bilateral economic cooperation, considering the mutually complementary structures of the two economies. Lee's call for swift negotiations came a day after he and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signed an action plan to enhance cooperation in advanced industries such as AI, defense, and aerospace.