Gov. Doug Ducey touts Arizona’s strong relationship with Mexico

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey touted the importance of having a strong relationship with Mexico at an event with the country’s top diplomat to the United States on Wednesday.

At the event hosted by the Arizona-Mexico Commission at Phoenix’s Camby Hotel, Ducey stressed that maintaining a good relationship with Mexico is important for Arizona’s future — especially as it relates to trade.

“A safe, secure and efficient trade relationship is critical to Arizona’s jobs and our future economy,” he said.

Mexico is Arizona’s largest international trade partner, with $16 billion in bilateral trade every year. Ducey said trade with Mexico is responsible for 100,000 jobs in Arizona.

The governor said he made improving relations with Mexico a top priority when he got elected in 2014. He also noted his first international trade mission as governor was to Mexico City.

“It made a tremendous impression on me being the first governor in nearly a decade to make that trip,” Ducey said. “What a warm, welcoming, inviting reception we received. I think we’ve been growing the relationship ever since.”

Geronimo Gutierrez, the Mexican Ambassador to the United States, agreed with Ducey that Mexico’s relationship with Arizona is a strong one.

Gutierrez said this is true despite recent differences between the U.S. and Mexico.

Leaders from both countries have clashed on who will pay for President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall. Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto has repeatedly said his country will not pay for it as Trump has suggested.

At Wednesday’s event, Ducey and Gutierrez participated in a question and answer session led by Arizona State University President Michael Crow.

Gutierrez said now “is a good time to be vocal” about the importance of Mexico’s relationship with the U.S. and how the two countries should continue working together on a number of issues, including organized crime and trade.

“We are going to be better off working and listening to each other on a lot of the things that we have to deal with instead of pointing fingers at each other,” he said.

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