08/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/27/2024 15:06
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, issued a statement expressing deep concern about proposed constitutional reforms in Mexico that would undermine judicial independence and risk violating the terms of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement.
"An independent and transparent judiciary is a hallmark of any democratic country. We are deeply concerned that the proposed judicial reforms in Mexico would undermine the independence and transparency of the country's judiciary, jeopardizing critical economic and security interests shared by our two nations. We are also alarmed that several other constitutional reforms currently under discussion may contradict commitments made in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, which is scheduled for review in 2026.
"We strongly urge the López Obrador Administration, as well as the incoming Sheinbaum Administration, to pursue only those reforms that enhance professional qualifications, combat corruption, protect judicial autonomy, and strengthen investor confidence. These considerations are essential to preserving the democratic values and mutual prosperity that unite our nations."
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