President Lee Hosts Korea-Mexico Business Roundtable... Business Leaders Call for Swift Economic Agreement

President Lee and Sheinbaum Co-chair Business Leaders' Roundtable
Business Leaders: "Uncertainty Rises Amid USMCA Review"
Choi Taewon and Koo Kwangmo Attend
"Mexico is a Key Bridgehead for North and Central/South America"

During his state visit to Mexico, President Lee Jae-myung met with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico and business leaders from both countries to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation. Korean business representatives requested a prompt conclusion of an economic agreement between Korea and Mexico. They also urged the Mexican government to reduce uncertainties for local businesses arising from the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

President Lee Jae-myung and President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico jointly chaired the Korea-Mexico Business Leaders Meeting at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City on the 24th (local time). About 30 high-ranking officials from both countries attended the meeting, including nine Korean business leaders such as Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group and Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group. September 25, 2026 Yonhap News Agency

On the afternoon of the 24th (local time), President Lee co-chaired a business roundtable with President Sheinbaum at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City. The meeting was attended by more than 30 senior officials from both governments, including nine Korean business leaders such as Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of SK Group, and Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group.

President Lee described the two countries as "indispensable strategic partners for each other," emphasizing that now is the right moment to take bilateral economic cooperation to the next level amid the global reorganization of supply chains and rising uncertainties in the world economy.

He also referred to President Sheinbaum’s Plan Mexico—a strategy to boost industrial competitiveness and expand infrastructure announced last year—and expressed Korea’s willingness to support it as a partner.

The Korean business leaders stressed that their long-term investments in Mexico have contributed to developing high value-added manufacturing and strengthening regional supply chains. They also noted that collaborative areas, once focused on automotive and home appliances, have recently expanded rapidly into electricity and energy, mobility, advanced materials, food, and beauty industries.

President Lee Jae-myung and Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, jointly chaired the Korea-Mexico Business Leaders Meeting at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City on the 24th (local time). About 30 senior officials from both countries attended the meeting, including nine Korean business leaders such as Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group and President of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group. September 25, 2026, Yonhap News.

The business representatives recognized Mexico as a key gateway targeting both the North American and Central and South American markets, rather than simply a production base. They recommended that an economic agreement between Korea and Mexico be concluded quickly to institutionalize and support the expansion of bilateral economic cooperation.

They specifically pointed out that uncertainties surrounding business operations in Mexico have been growing due to the ongoing USMCA review, and asked the Mexican government to take an active interest in creating a more stable business environment.

This business roundtable followed the summit meeting between the leaders of Korea and Mexico, during which they agreed to begin negotiations to revise the investment protection agreement and discussed the necessity of a trade agreement. With these discussions now including the voices from the corporate sector, further talks are expected to accelerate efforts to translate Korea-Mexico economic cooperation into tangible investments and business expansion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.