US President Joe Biden concluded his four-day diplomatic push with China and other Pacific nations by holding a final meeting on Friday with world leaders and a visit with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The visit comes as the two countries face several trade issues, including Mexico's efforts to phase out the use of genetically modified corn and block US energy investments into Mexico. During their bilateral meeting, Biden and Lopez Obrador expressed interest in tackling the issues of migration and fentanyl trafficking.

Biden emphasized the strong security cooperation between the two countries, working together to combat arms trafficking, organized crime, and the opioid epidemic, including fentanyl. Lopez Obrador praised Biden for his immigration policies, referring to him as an extraordinary president with conviction. Despite the trade disputes, Mexico's economic integration with the United States continues to grow. In the first half of 2023, Mexico overtook Canada and China to become the largest US goods trading partner, reaching a total trade of $396.6 billion. This growth is fueled by Mexico's automotive production and the shift of supply chains from China closer to home by US companies.

However, tensions between Washington and Mexico City continue to rise. The trade relations between the two countries have worsened, with Mexico's efforts to phase out genetically modified corn affecting US farmers, and their attempts to block US energy investments into Mexico. In 2022, Mexico had a $130.5 billion goods trade surplus with the United States, and this is expected to more than double from the $69 billion surplus in 2017. These trade disputes have a historical backdrop, as former President Donald Trump initiated a renegotiation of the NAFTA trade agreement in 2017, claiming it was draining US manufacturing jobs.

The renegotiation aimed to address the trade imbalances between the two countries and protect US industries. Despite the challenges, both Biden and Lopez Obrador expressed a commitment to maintaining a respectful and cooperative relationship between the United States and Mexico. As the two leaders continue to work together on various issues, it remains to be seen how the trade disputes will be resolved and how they will impact the overall bilateral relationship.