The Mexican Institute of Executives in Foreign Trade (IMECE) awarded the Yacatecuhtli Prize to Fernando de Mateo , in recognition of his career of more than five decades in the field of international trade negotiations and his contribution to the integration of Mexico into the world economy.
The Yacatecuhtli Award is a recognition given to individuals whose career and contributions have contributed to the development, strengthening, and professionalization of Mexico’s foreign trade . Its name refers to the Mexica deity associated with merchants and trade voyages, thus symbolizing the importance of trade and those who drive Mexico’s activity in international markets.
In this regard, De Mateo’s participation in some of the main processes that marked the country’s trade opening was highlighted, including Mexico’s incorporation into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) , the Uruguay Round negotiations and the construction of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) .
His performance as national coordinator of trade negotiations with the European Union and as a negotiator in agreements with various countries in Latin America and Europe was also recognized.
His career also includes 12 years as Mexico’s ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) , during which time he chaired the General Council and participated in various bodies of this institution. He currently works as a professor and researcher at El Colegio de México , where he continues to contribute to the analysis of trade relations and the training of specialists.
Upon receiving the award, De Mateo expressed his gratitude for the distinction and noted that it represents a particularly significant recognition coming from a community that understands the effort and responsibility involved in foreign trade.
In his speech, he reflected on the transformation of the international economic environment and warned that trade is going through a stage marked by uncertainty, in which trade rules are losing stability in the face of geopolitical tensions and conflicts between countries.
He explained that the effects of this scenario are not limited to governments, but also reach businesses and families, by changing prices, increasing the cost of inputs, compromising supply chains , and altering investment decisions.
Added to this context is the technological transformation , particularly the development of artificial intelligence (AI) , which poses new challenges in terms of production, employment, and responsibility. In this scenario, he considered that Mexico has an opportunity to increase its participation in the value chains linked to these technologies.
However, he maintained that taking advantage of this opportunity requires generating greater national added value, developing Mexican suppliers, strengthening technological capabilities, and fostering better jobs. To achieve this, he identified access to competitive energy, infrastructure, talent, information, and clear regulations as necessary conditions.
USMCA and competitiveness, beyond the trade balance
Regarding trade policy, De Mateo questioned whether reducing Mexico’s trade surplus with the United States should become the main objective of the negotiations for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) .
The success of a trade agreement should be measured by its contribution to productivity, investment, employment and well-being, and not solely by bilateral trade balances, he argued.
He explained that the raw trade figures do not fully reflect the benefits of the exchange, because a portion of the value of Mexican exports incorporates inputs from the United States and other countries, which demonstrates the productive integration of North America.
He also warned that tariff and protectionist measures can create distortions and affect companies that produce in an integrated manner in the region, weakening the competitiveness of supply chains.
Given this scenario, he argued that Mexico should combine its international negotiation strategy with a review of the internal conditions that affect business activity, particularly legal certainty, transparency, and regulatory predictability.
Customs, a factor for competitiveness
Another topic discussed was the role of customs in national competitiveness. De Mateo pointed out that combating smuggling and tax evasion is essential , but he believes this task must be carried out through intelligence, technology, and effective law enforcement.
The priority of raising revenue should not displace the objectives of trade efficiency or the needs of domestic production, he warned.
In that regard, he stressed that a customs office must facilitate trade while still fulfilling its control functions, since unnecessary procedures can delay shipments, increase costs and affect an entire production chain, with consequences that can even translate into the loss of customers or investments.
Mexico must place international cooperation, transparency, and competitiveness at the center of its trade strategy in order to defend its interests with arguments and proposals, while strengthening internal conditions to take advantage of the opportunities of the global economy, he argued.
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