Regardless of the fact that the electrical reform has not been approved, investment and authorizations continue to be stopped. And that inhibits investment.”
César Castro Rodríguez, coordinator of the Council of Industrial Chambers of Jalisco.
American companies from various sectors, together with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), are considering filing lawsuits against Mexico, within the framework of the Mexico, United States, Canada Agreement (T-MEC), due to bureaucratic paralysis maintained by the Mexican government to access a greater supply of energy to operate, as well as curb clean energy permits, said César Castro Rodríguez, coordinator of the Council of Industrial Chambers of Jalisco (CCIJ).
Even though the electricity reform promoted by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was rejected in the Congress of the Union -last April-, the uncertainty to operate in Mexico continues and keeps investments for 150 million dollars from companies installed in Mexico on standby. industrial parks in the Bajío of the country.
In an interview with El Economista, the former president of the maquiladora industry and an expert in the electronics branch said: “the electrical issue is inhibiting investment. Definitely, if we do not have the possibility of having energy, growth will not be generated; also the tax issue, there are many changes constantly. In addition to the insecurity that afflicts us on the roads”.
He referred that the companies he represents are mostly from the United States and this country “complains that there are no authorizations, it continues to be extended and regardless of the fact that the electrical reform has not been approved, investment and authorizations continue to be stopped. And that inhibits investment, because what message does it send?
The uncertainty to invest has not been cleared up, said César Castro, a concern that was expressed to the head of the Ministry of Economy, Tatiana Clouthier, within the framework of the Concamin 2022 Industrial Meeting, last week in Acapulco, Guerrero.
We reported, he said, that the USTR is analyzing filing lawsuits against Mexico through the T-MEC and the points are the permits of the electricity industry, the extensions of energy supply and the relationship of equal treatment between Mexico and the US, after there are preferences over state companies.
“The United States says, like there is no longer good communication (with Mexico) and they are stopped (energy projects). My American companies that have an interest in Mexico feel insecure, and that goes against the T-MEC, they must give them legal certainty and maintain what is already authorized, as well as continue investing,” said the CCIJ coordinator.
The electricity reform (proposed by President AMLO) “was a risk if it had been approved, but now, the consequences we see is that we continue with the same uncertainty…”, he said.
The pending that the industry faces is the generation of electricity and that the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) really demands that it be bearable for the company, or that you can invest to produce your own energy. However, “the permits are stopped, they don’t come out,” he lamented.
Industrialists also face the problem of road insecurity. We are experiencing the security crisis and strengthening security protocols. It is hitting us hard, because they are electronic components, and chips”, denounced the business representative.