Mexican Event with - Javier Usabiaga, Secretary of Agriculture

Javier Usabiaga was named Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food (SAGARPA) in Vicente Fox's cabinet in 2000. His mission as Secretary of Agriculture - to foster "equitable economic growth" in Mexico - was outlined by President Fox as one of three major policy priorities of this incoming administration. Secretary Usabiaga's address focused on the state of the domestic agricultural sector and steps the ministry is taking to promote a competitive and sustainable sector. The Secretary also discussed actions the Fox administration has taken to foster dynamism in the sector and to improve the livelihoods of the nearly 25 million Mexicans who live in rural areas. Secretary Usabiaga led an interactive discussion on some of the opportunities and challenges in trade relations between Mexico and the US and within the broader NAFTA framework. The Secretary concluded by noting that Mexico bears a certain responsibility in enacting the necessary reforms to improve its competitiveness if it is to fully realize the benefits of NAFTA.