Mexico City – Chinese President Hu Jintao promised Mexican President Vicente Fox on Monday that his country would crack down on the millions of dollars’ worth of Chinese contraband entering this country, goods that undermine Mexican businesses from sandal-makers to religious-icon sellers.
During his three-day state visit, his first since Fox took office in December 2000, Hu pledged that his government would investigate all complaints Mexico passed along, including tracking down and punishing specific companies that allegedly smuggle in the goods, a Fox spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.
Fox mentioned the promise, without giving details, in a joint news conference with Hu after private meetings between the two leaders.
Mexican industries from traditional handicrafts to assembly-for- export plants have complained about an influx of low-priced Chinese goods and jobs lost to lower wages in China.
Not including clandestine goods, China ran a trade surplus with Mexico of about $14 billion in 2004.
