Mexico To Be U.S. Commerce Secretary's First Trade Mission Destination

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker (2013 Getty Images)

The U.S. Commerce Secretary’s first trade mission will take place in Mexico next month, when President Obama, on a separate trip, will visit as well.

A news release from the office of the Commerce Secretary, Penny Pritzker, noted that Mexico is a key economic partner of the United States.

It is the United States’ second-largest export market, behind Canada. Mexico is the United State's third-largest trading partner, behind Canada and China, respectively.

Mexico is a primary destination for exports from 22 states, the statement said.

Trade of good and services between the United States and Mexico exceeds $1 billion each day, her office said, “supporting millions of jobs in both countries.”

“Mexico’s proximity to the United States, its growing middle class, and the full implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have created a market ripe for U.S. companies,” her office said. “The United States exports more to Mexico than to all of Brazil, Russia, India and China combined.”

Pritzker will be traveling to Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico's third-largest city and its main industrial hub, in early February with representatives of 17 companies, including IBM, Oracle, NexisLexis and Motorola.

Obama plans to be in Mexico on Feb. 19 for a summit of North American leaders that will include President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It will be Obama’s fifth trip to Mexico since he became president.