Mexico claims that North America will import 25% of its Asia imports.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters – Mexico, Canada, and the United States plan to produce in North America 25% more than they import from Asia as part of a new initiative to encourage the region’s integration, Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s Foreign Minister, said Thursday.

Ebrard spoke about the outcomes of meetings in Mexico City this week between U.S. President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Ebrard indicated that four representatives of each country will be working on the import substitution program previously described by Lopez Obrador Tuesday. He didn’t say how fast the region would achieve its goal.

Ebrard stated that Mexico will have to invest to speed up the process.

Ebrard stated that Canada and the United States will be participating in Mexico’s efforts to increase solar energy output and create industry in Sonora, the northern border state.

After meeting in Mexico City, leaders from all three countries agreed Tuesday to tighten economic relations, increase regional production and boost the output of semiconductors.

(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire, Editing by Mark Porter