For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 29, 1999

For further information please contact:
Daniel Cruise or Monica Hill (202) 482-3809

U.S. and Mexico Sign Agreement on
Bilateral E-Commerce Initiative

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO—U.S. Under Secretary David L. Aaron and Mexican Under Secretary de la Calle today signed an agreement to strengthen bilateral efforts to promote electronic commerce. This e-commerce initiative between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Mexican Secretariat of Commerce and Industrial Development will use video conferencing and information technology as well as virtual trade shows to strengthen the bilateral dialogue on e-commerce.

"We hope and expect that the government of Mexico and its private sector will be a strong partner in dealing with the many complex issues that must be resolved for electronic commerce to fulfill its millennial promise. I believe this agreement signed today will help both countries further their already strong trading partnership," Aaron said.

Under Secretary de la Calle echoed Aaron's enthusiasm for the initiative saying that "the agreement will be an important tool in further developing bilateral cooperation on electronic commerce." Under Secretary de la Calle stressed the importance of developing e-commerce to the Mexican economy. "Closer cooperation with the U.S. on this issues is an important step forward," he concluded.

At a conference hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Aaron emphasized the need for the private sector to lead in developing e-commerce. He urged the Mexican Government to join the U.S. on the sidelines where he said governments belong. The conference in Mexico City was part of a hemispheric effort organized by the National Chamber Foundation to meet with Latin American leaders to discuss policy issues related to e-commerce.

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