Mexican economy minister resigns during US energy dispute

Mexican Economy Minister Tatiana Clouthier stepped down on Thursday, depriving Mexico of one of its key trade negotiators as her government scrambles to head off a major dispute over energy with the United States and Canada.

Clouthier, a member of a powerful political family who became economy minister early last year, said she had first told President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that she intended to quit not long after the energy disagreement threatened to become costly for Mexico.

Her resignation was effective immediately.

The US requested dispute settlement talks with Mexico on July 20. Clouthier said she had first discussed her desire to step down with Lopez Obrador six days later, using baseball as a metaphor to explain her decision.

“Like in the game, one needs to know when to retire,” Clouthier said as Lopez Obrador stood alongside her.

Lopez Obrador has made strengthening state control of energy a cornerstone of his economic agenda. The policy has upset US and Canadian investors who argue their companies have been put at an unfair disadvantage.

The US energy complaint, which Canada joined, put Clouthier in a tough position, forcing her to defend policies that Mexican officials privately concede very likely breach a North American trade deal Lopez Obrador is also committed to.

Visibly moved while reading from her resignation letter in a government news conference, Clouthier said she had also raised her plan to resign with Lopez Obrador in September.

The president said he respected her decision. “We insisted she stay, but she’s a woman with convictions,” he said.

A replacement for Clouthier will be announced on Friday, Lopez Obrador said.

She stepped down days after an initial consultation period for the energy dispute was set to expire. Washington had the option to request a dispute panel after 75 days, but US and Mexican officials told Reuters news agency that talks would continue.

If the dispute does end up before a panel, Mexico risks getting hit with punitive trade tariffs.

Clouthier thanked the president for showing her “there’s no exhaustion, sickness or barrier that can’t be overcome when it comes to public service.”

Lopez Obrador did not respond when asked by a reporter if Clouthier was ill.

Clouthier, a former congresswoman and onetime member of the opposition center-right National Action Party, later joined forces with the leftist Lopez Obrador and played a crucial role in helping run his campaign for president in 2018.