New Delhi, Feb 17 () Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday asked the industry to look for ways to expand the country's export basket by adding more value-added products and cut shipments of raw materials. He said the country's export basket is changing but it is not changing at fast pace. "We are moving from some raw materials to intermediates. Can we collectively look at changing basket of exports to do more value-added products? Can we reduce exports of, let's say, iron ore and export high-quality steel? Can we stop exporting alumina, and stop importing aluminium products?," he said here. "Can we see how we can become value-added producers so that the indian basket of manufacturing changes," the minister questioned. He said India's share in the world's trade is in single digit for many products. "Our government has identified a few champion sectors, like textiles, fisheries and IT, to expand and become a world leader in exports. Our government is swadeshi and personally, I am swadeshi. Therefore, we want to encourage our domestic investors on priority. We will fight for their cause," Goyal said. He also said any country, which does not allow equal and reciprocal access to our products and services in their country, by law "we will stop them from participating in government contracts in India". Talking about scale of production, he said the Indian industry needs to boost its scale to take advantage of the China-US trade war. "Now, with the China-US trade war, we were trying to see how we can get more Indian companies to benefit from it. The sad part is that we are not producing to scale in our country," he said. Citing an example of retail giant Walmart, the minister said the company wanted 40,000 pieces of some footwear product. On this, a big Indian company stated that they can give 20,000 pieces over the next year. Walmart wanted 40,000 pieces every month without which they cannot place an order as they have 3,000-odd stores all over the world, the minister said. "So, unless we start looking at scale, we are going to get out of the market very soon," he said. He asked DPIIT and the department of commerce to identify sectors where India has competitive advantage and where the Indian industry can see business opportunities. He also asked the industry to highlight their problems in terms of harassment by inspectors of any sort. Further, Goyal added that although he does not differentiate between domestic and foreign investors, "given a choice, I would urge the domestic industry to invest more than FDI (foreign direct investment)" as " we want to encourage domestic investors". The minister also asked the DPIIT to discuss with the cabinet secretariat about signing a legally binding agreement with states for abiding contractual obligations. He said there are cases where states back out from their commitment, when there is a change in leadership. He asked the industry to identify sectors where the government can promote assembling of products at a lower rate of duty and finished items at a higher rate of duty. "In a phased manner, we will restrict products' import and ensure that domestic industry can achieve scale," he added. RR HRS

Goyal asks industry to expand export basket

New Delhi, Mar 29 () The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Sunday constituted 10 different high-level committees to suggest measures to ramp up healthcare, put the economy back on track, reduce pain and misery of people as quickly as possible post 21-day lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic.These committees looking after various aspects will work under the overall guidance of P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, sources said.The initiative is being viewed as pro-active step by the government to deal with multiple challenges, which the outbreak of pandemic COVID-19 has posed and made the country to deal with emergency situation, they said, adding these groups will also work on strategy for restoring normalcy in their respective sectors, including healthcare, in the shortest possible time frame.The panel on the 'Economy and Welfare' headed by Economic Affairs Secretary Atanu Chakraborty has been tasked to address the concerns of various sectors, including both formal and informal segments of the economy - hit hard by coronavirus outbreak and subsequent lockdown.The panel is expected to suggest various relief measures to put economy back on track as soon as possible, the sources said.Special emphasis will have to be welfare schemes for the poor who have suffered a lot on account of the lockdown, they said, adding poor and vulnerable section of the society has been the key focus of the government and top priority will be given to deal with the challenges before them in the coming days.Besides, two other working groups under the leadership of NITI Aayog memeber V K Paul and Enviornment Secretary C K Mishra will work on preparedness for medical emergency, seamless supply of medicine, medicalequipment and hospital availability.They have been entrusted with the task of mapping of hospitals across the country and medical facility of public sector undertakings and other government agencies, including police forces and army are roped in to deal with emergency situation post lockdown.Already many agencies, including government school, universities and Railways have committed for setting up isolation ward.In addition to this, the sources said, the panel would also focus on augmentation of trained medical professionals and capacity building.Suggestions are also solicited on increasing capacity for manufacturing of ventilators and other medical equipment. Research and Development in the medical field is another focus area for the panel, they added.Committee under V K Paul and C K Mishra are expected to ease out burden of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which is currently doing heavy lifting in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.At the same time, they will do in-depth study on protective gear to be used by public to ensure infection is contained post April 14.Logistics will be another critical area which would be looked by a working group for ensuring movement of goods, medicine and medical equipment, doctors and other services, source said.Each group will have about 6 members with one officer from the PMO and Cabinet Secretariat, so that there is a full coordination and suggestions accepted are implemented without any delay.In all about 20 secretaries of various departments and ministries and 40 other officials have started working on various issues and come up with measures at the earliest, the sources said.Each group has been given upper time limit of a week to come out with measures on the specified sector.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 announced a complete lockdown across the country for 21 days, asserting that social distancing is the only way out for the country in its decisive battle against coronavirus.In his second address to the nation on the pandemic, Modi made a fervent appeal to the countrymen not to cross the ''lakshman rekha'' of their homes in the next three weeks.The lockdown lead to large scale exodus of migrant labours from cities to their native places as they were left to fend for themselves.The Prime Minister on Sunday sought the nation's forgiveness for imposing a monumental lockdown on the country, saying it was a question of life and death and expressed confidence that "we will definitely win the battle" against coronavirus menace that has claimed 25 lives in India so far.According to the Health Ministry update released an hour before Modi's address, India has recorded a total of 979 cases and 25 deaths so far. DP CS BALBAL

PMO sets up high-level panels to deal with situation post lockdown; restore normalcy

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5bfd59f2c9570111a634c300-2000/2018-11-25t205624z1lynxnpeeao0uirtroptp4usa-immigration-caravan.jpg" border="0" alt="mexico migrants tear gas" data-mce-source="Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters" data-mce-caption="A migrant family, part of a caravan of thousands traveling from Central America en route to the United States, run away from tear gas in front of the border wall between the U.S and Mexico in Tijuana, Mexico November 25, 2018." data-link="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2018%3Anewsml_LYNXNPEEAO0UI%3A1&amp;share=true" /></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>The Trump administration floated unsubstantiated claims about a group of migrants who stormed a US port of entry to defend the use of tear gas on a crowd that included women and children.</li><li>Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen speculated that women and children were a convenient tool for the predominantly male caravan at which US officials launched tear gas. </li><li>Nielsen's claim comes after President Donald Trump said there were "grabbers" among the migrants who picked up random children as they approached the border to better their chances of entering the US. </li><li>The baseless claims are the latest defense from US officials after the clash spurred widespread backlash as reports described women and children running from tear gas. </li></ul>The Trump administration floated unsubstantiated claims about a group of migrants who <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/border-closed-after-groups-of-migrants-stormed-us-border-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stormed a US port</a> of entry to defend the use of tear gas on a crowd that included women and children.In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/179587888720522/posts/2230592780286679/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lengthy statement</a> released late Monday night, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen echoed President Donald Trump's unverified claim that the women and children seen running and screaming as US authorities launched tear gas across a border wall were being used as "human shields" by migrants.Nielsen said that because the caravan was predominantly male, women and children provided a convenient image for the group."It appears in some cases that the limited number of women and children in the caravan are being used by the organizers as 'human shields' when they confront law enforcement," she wrote on Facebook. "They are being put at risk by the caravan organizers as we saw at the Mexico-Guatemala border. This is putting vulnerable people in harm's way." Business Insider has reached out to DHS and is awaiting a response.The comment is similar to a remark made in October by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who said the caravan was using <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/pompeo-meets-with-mexican-officials-as-a-migrant-caravan-inches-north/2018/10/19/721d0448-d31b-11e8-a4db-184311d27129_story.html?utm_term=.1fefd05003a6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women and children as shields</a> in a confrontation that resulted in the group forcing its way into Mexico. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mom-tear-gas-children-migrants-us-border-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mom pictured fleeing with her kids from tear gas at the US border says she never thought Border Patrol would use it on children</a>Nielsen also dismissed the events of the clash as "rumors" and "misinformation," despite<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/border-closed-after-groups-of-migrants-stormed-us-border-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> widespread reports, photo, and video</a> from the scene. Rodney Scott, chief of San Diego Border Patrol, also depicted the caravan as a largely male group, announcing that of the 42 people agents arrested after they crossed the border, eight were women. Scott added there were "only a few" children involved.Nielsen's unverified speculation came soon <a href="https://www.apnews.com/b084172b06b64badbded4d0061a1edbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">after Trump said</a> that he heard some migrants grabbed random children as they approached the border to increase their chances to enter the US."In some cases, you know, they're not the parents," Trump said at a roundtable event in Biloxi, Mississippi. "These are people, they call 'em 'grabbers,' they grab the child because they think they're gonna have a certain status by having a child. You know you have certain advantages and things with our crazy laws that frankly Congress should be changing."When asked for evidence and further explanation, Trump repeated that there were "grabbers."Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tear-gas-against-migrants-at-mexico-border-backlash-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Backlash erupts after the Trump administration fires tear gas at migrants in clash at the US-Mexico border</a>Before the demonstration, more than 5,600 migrants were being held in Tijuana's Benito Juarez Sports Complex, Mexico's Social Development Secretariat <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/26/politics/trump-grabbers-southern-border-migrants/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told CNN</a>. Of those, an official estimated there were 3,598 men, 1,041 women, and 993 children.Reports of mothers and young children with burning eyes running from the tear gas launched by US authorities <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tear-gas-against-migrants-at-mexico-border-backlash-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sparked immediate reactions</a> from civil rights organizations and across social media.The confrontation came after a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/migrant-caravan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">migrant caravan</a> group estimated to be in the hundreds stormed the busiest port of entry along the Mexico border Sunday in a planned demonstration.Chaos broke out as migrants got close to the border agents in riot gear and <a href="https://www.apnews.com/72efa4f1822241c2817a2fb6aa191fb4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> attempted to break through barbed wire and metal sheeting.Children screamed and coughed as clouds of gas spread out across hundreds of yards, <a href="https://www.apnews.com/72efa4f1822241c2817a2fb6aa191fb4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Associated Press reported</a>."We ran, but when you run the smoke asphyxiates you more," Ana Zuniga, a 23-year-old woman from Honduras, told the AP while holding her 3-year-old daughter.The hits against the caravan are the latest in the Trump administration's anti-immigrant rhetoric, which boiled over earlier this year as Nielsen lead the charge on a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/zero-tolerance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">zero-tolerance</a> immigration policy that resulted in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/family-reunification-heartbreaking-video-2018-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thousands of migrant children</a> being separated from their parents. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kirstjen-nielsen-fired-soon-by-trump-report-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Multiple recent reports</a> have suggested that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-is-preparing-to-remove-kirstjen-nielsen-as-homeland-security-secretary-aides-say/2018/11/12/77111496-e6b0-11e8-bbdb-72fdbf9d4fed_story.html?utm_term=.d57dafeef7b6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nielsen</a> is next on the list to be fired from the administration, which Trump <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-says-he-is-considering-cabinet-changes-in-a-fox-news-interview-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">advanced earlier this month</a> when he admitted he was considering changes to "three or four or five positions" in his Cabinet. Trump insisted that he likes and respects Nielsen, but wished she handled the relationship between the US and Mexico differently, which has been identified as a point of tension between the two."I like her very much I respect her very much," Trump said. "I'd like her to be much tougher on the border. Much tougher. Period."

Trump administration floats claims that tear-gassed women and children were 'human shields'

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/35467342.cms" />NEW DELHI: The incoming <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> government may well corner credit for key anti-corruption and pro-governance bills that UPA-II failed to pass despite a last minute bid to push the legislations through Parliament. 
 
The Modi government will take a call on UPA-II’ s unfinished agenda with cabinet secretary Ajit Seth asking ministries to compile a list of ordinances, pending and lapsed bills that would put up before the new regime. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Modi-govt-to-be-sworn-in-on-May-26/articleshow/35384634.cms" target="_blank">Modi govt to be sworn in on May 26</a> 
 The bills include anti-corruption and public service measures the <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword> government had, under <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> vice president Rahul Gandhi’s prodding, tried to legislate before dissolution of the 15th <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword>. 
 
In a communication to secretaries, Seth said "Ministers\departments may in all such cases take a view in the matter with the approval of the new minister-in-charge as soon as the new government is sworn in.” 
 
Seth has advised ministries that they can frame "suitable proposals for consideration of the Cabinet after requisite inter-ministerial consultations” once it becomes clear that whether the bills are to be dropped, altered or retained. 
 BJP seems inclined to review the bills. "Some of the bills can be improved. Some of the acts that have been passed can be amended and some pending bills may not be priority any more,” a <keyword id="6464304" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Senior-BJP-leader">senior BJP leader</keyword> said. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Challenges-the-new-govt-faces-and-possible-solutions-to-put-India-back-on-a-growth-path/articleshow/35458117.cms">TOI manifesto — Challenges the new govt faces</a> 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/35467248.cms" /> 
 
The bills present an opportunity for the new government, as they have been framed by the Congress-led UPA and the former ruling party would ordinarily not oppose their passage. This should help NDA as it lacks numbers in the upper House. 
 
Bills seeking to amend the prevention of corruption act, judicial appointments, right to services and introduction of auctions in mining contracts are among 60 pending and 68 lapsed bills. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Babudom-dusts-off-3-year-old-Modi-report-on-inflation/articleshow/35449104.cms" target="_blank">Babudom dusts off 3-year-old Modi report on inflation</a> 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Tax-dept-blamed-for-policy-uncertainty/articleshow/35445849.cms" target="_blank">Tax dept blamed for policy uncertainty</a> 
 
Secretaries have been asked to discuss the bills with new ministers at the earliest to get a view if they are to be pursued in their present form or changes are required to be carried out. 
 
The note, brought out in the form of an office memorandum of the Cabinet Secretariat, also mentioned that a similar view will also need to be taken about Ordinances promulgated by President Pranab Mukherjee. 
 
"These will now be required to be placed for consideration of the Cabinet”, said the note. 
 
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="contentid=0_jrierzo7&amp;videosection=videoshow&amp;channelid=10001&amp;tadsid=38826&amp;tslotid=868&amp;npl=1&amp;flavour=&amp;id=35417814&amp;playerid=24&amp;section=News&amp;autoplay=1&amp;keywords=RSS, Speaker, role, LK Advani, Narendra Modi, NDA, BJP govt&amp;title=RSS pitches for Speaker’s role to Advani?&amp;description=RSS pitches for Speaker’s role to Advani?&amp;duration=02:30&amp;flavour=&amp;relatedvideo=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videpostroll_v3/3812907.cms?dontshow=35417814&amp;embval=false" height="416" name="myMovie" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/configspace/ads/timesChannelWrapper.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="554" wmode="transparent" /> 
 
The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill and the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2013 were introduced in the Rajya Sabha by the UPA-II government. 
 
The Bills, which are lapsed due to dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha, include the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, the mines and minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, the Electronic Delivery of Services Bill and the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill.

Narendra Modi Government May Take Up Bills UPA Failed To Pass

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a78d6a2c980611c008b46ef-1400/rtx4o16g.jpg" alt="Donald Trump homeland security" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst" data-mce-caption="President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, at the US Customs and Border Protection's National Targeting Center in Sterling, Virginia, February 2, 2018." />REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstPresident Donald Trump, next to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, at the US Customs and Border Protection's National Targeting Center in Sterling, Virginia, February 2, 2018.</div></div></div><ul><li>US-Mexico relations have been fraught during President Donald Trump's first year in office.</li><li>Despite that tension, the two countries continue to cooperate on a range of issues.</li><li>But Trump's rhetoric and policies Mexico sees as detrimental may cause those ties to fray.</li></ul><hr /> President Donald Trump has kept pressure on Mexico, pushing for a renegotiation of NAFTA, calling for tougher border security, and criticizing the US's southern neighbor over <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mexico-violence-most-killings-in-decades-2017-2018-violent-start-2018-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">growing crime and violence</a> there.Trump's skepticism of Mexico and others in the region on was evident on Friday, during a Customs and Border Protection meeting in Virginia.The event focused on US efforts to halt flows of drugs and migrants to the US, touching on the roles Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia have as cocaine-producing countries and on the roles of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala as origin points for migrants - as well as on Mexico as a transit area for both."These countries are not our friends," Trump said. "We think they're our friends, and we send them massive aid, and I won't mention names right now, but I look at these countries, I look at the numbers we send them - we send them massive aid, and they're pouring drugs into our country and they're laughing at us."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a53ec2e3225de7d018b5178-2400/ap17088575700777.jpg" alt="US Mexico border patrol marijuana drug seizure bust" data-mce-source="(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)" data-mce-caption="US border-patrol agents carry bales of marijuana they found along the highway near Ryan, Texas, about 20 miles from the US-Mexico border, March 28, 2017. One agent said smugglers &amp;quotjust leave it and come back another day. It's going to be sad when they come back for it.&quot; Drug interdiction is a core mission for the Border Patrol." />(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)US border-patrol agents carry bales of marijuana they found along the highway near Ryan, Texas, about 20 miles from the US-Mexico border, March 28, 2017.</div></div></div>The acting Customs and Border Protection chief, when asked what Latin American countries were doing to halt drug flows, told Trump that the US has been "partnering closely with these governments to increase their effectiveness" and that there had been "significant improvement in our dialogue" with Mexico over the past year.Mexico <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-officials-missing-most-of-the-picture-over-cocaine-in-colombia-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">isn't the only country</a> in the region Trump <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/rex-tillerson-talking-about-us-oil-sanctions-against-venezuela-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has criticized</a>, and the two countries continue to cooperate on bilateral and regional issues while politicians on both sides have touted what they say are strong relations, but observers warn that frays in the close ties could become more significant - and more damaging.The possibility Trump's rhetoric and policies could undermine economic, political, and societal ties has been well covered, said Rebecca Bill Chavez, former deputy assistant secretary of <keyword id="6354810" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Defense">defense</keyword> for Western Hemisphere affairs, <a href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/taking-stock-mexicos-security-landscape" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the Wilson Center</a> in Washington, DC, on Monday. "But we don't hear as much about the potential impact on our security cooperation."That cooperation expanded beyond a counter-narcotics focus to more traditional defense activities during the Obama administration, according to Chavez, who held her Defense Department post from 2013 to 2017, but fighting drug-trafficking remained an important part of the relationship."In jeopardizing counter-narcotics collaboration, President Trump risks cutting off his nose to spite his face," she said during a panel event. "I mean this is a policy priority for Trump. He's declared the opioid epidemic a public-health emergency, and ... the US supply-side approach requires Mexican assistance and collaboration."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/595fb53ff5018435008b4b4c-800/degfdqxxyaewwcz.jpg" alt="John Kelly Mexico Guerrero opium poppy heroin" data-mce-source="Mexican Defense Secretariat/Twitter" data-mce-caption="US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, in the blue shirt, observes opium-poppy eradication operations in Mexico's Guerrero state, July 6, 2017." data-link="https://twitter.com/S_Cienfuegos_Z/status/883162652901617664" /><a href="https://twitter.com/S_Cienfuegos_Z/status/883162652901617664">Mexican Defense Secretariat/Twitter</a>Then-US Homeland Security chief John Kelly, in the blue shirt, observes opium-poppy eradication operations in Mexico's Guerrero state, July 6, 2017.</div></div></div>"In Mexico, it's the military that has the drug-enforcement mission, which includes fighting cartels and poppy eradication," she added. "A deterioration in our defense cooperation, it threatens stability and security of our hemisphere in areas from illicit trafficking to migration and natural-disaster-related humanitarian crises to destabilizing crime and violence."Comments from the White House may further stoke frustration in Mexico, Chavez said. "I think it exacerbates a lot of the historical problems we've had."Among the Mexican public, displeasure with the US appears to be growing. The Americas Barometer, a survey of public opinion in the region, found that distrust of the US rose from 31% of Mexicans to 84% in the three months after Trump's election, according to Chavez.A <a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2017/09/14/mexican-views-of-the-u-s-turn-sharply-negative/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pew Research Center survey</a> conducted in spring 2017 found that 65% of Mexicans had a negative opinion of the US, up from 29% in 2015, while only 30% expressed a positive opinion, down from 66% two years prior. Ninety-three percent of Mexicans said they had no confidence in Trump doing the right thing regarding world affairs.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58b05b885490570b548b515c-2400/rts101hp.jpg" alt="Luis Videgaray Rex Tillerson Mexico Secretary of State" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Carlos Barria" data-mce-caption="US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, shakes hands with Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray after delivering statements at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City, Mexico, February 23, 2017." />REUTERS/Carlos BarriaSecretary of State Rex Tillerson with Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City, February 23, 2017.</div></div></div>Senior Mexican officials have spoken highly of bilateral relations under Trump. Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-mexico-says-relationship-with-trump-closer-than-with-previous-government-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> this weekend that "in many ways the relationship today is more fluid. It's closer than it was with previous administrations." Though that assessment <a href="http://weeksnotice.blogspot.com/2018/02/us-getting-closer-to-mexico-and-thats.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">may be a reflection</a> of the diminished role of the State Department and the concentration of diplomatic decision-making in the White House.Videgaray has even sought to put <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/daca-dreamers-deportations-mexico-nafta-rex-tillerson-799199" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a positive spin</a> on the potential deportation of some 600,000 Mexican-born DACA recipients from the US, which he said "would be a great gain for Mexico and a loss for the United States," given that group's relatively high levels of education and work experience. (Though many of them have no ties to Mexico and would likely struggle to adjust.)Such sentiments may not be common among Mexican officials however.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57c746abb996eb95008b587b-2400/rtx2nqsv.jpg" alt="Donald Trump and Pena Nieto" data-mce-source="Henry Romero/REUTERS" data-mce-caption="Donald Trump with Enrique Peña Nieto." />Henry Romero/REUTERSThen-candidate Donald Trump with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico.</div></div></div>"Most of the politicians at all levels with all parties ... despise Donald trump and most of his cabinet," said Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration.He pointed to the extradition of Sinaloa cartel chief Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, which took place <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mexico-extradites-joaquin-el-chapo-guzman-sinaloa-cartel-kingpin-2017-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in the final hours of Obama's term</a>, as a sign Mexican officials didn't want to give Trump what could be seen as a win.Vigil, who maintains contact with government, security, and intelligence officials in Mexico, said the negative perception of Trump stemmed from the "very negative rhetoric that he espouses" about border security and immigration, as well as about NAFTA, which many in Mexico regard as mostly beneficial for the US, he told Business Insider.Videgaray himself <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-11/bad-nafta-outcome-could-hit-cooperation-on-security-mexico-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has said</a> a bad outcome in NAFTA talks could undercut cooperation on security and immigration.In addition to cooperation on counternarcotics efforts, Mexico has <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mexico-is-facing-a-cental-americans-migrant-crisis-2015-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stepped up its efforts</a> to stop undocumented migration, "and Mexico is working to secure its southern border as well, but if this whole situation falters, the one that's going to be worse for wear is the United States, not Mexico," said Vigil, who recounted his experiences working undercover in "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deal-Working-Undercover-Recounts-Standing/dp/149173521X?tag=bisafetynet2-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deal</a>.""I do think this challenge is real," Chavez said at the Wilson Center event. "Mexico's heading into an election year. Anti-Trump sentiment continues to grow in Mexico, and that increases the political costs of partnering with the US. It's a reality." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/eight-prototypes-trump-border-wall-finished-in-san-diego-mexico-politics-patrol-customs-budget-congress-2017-10">One of these prototypes could become Trump's border wall</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/47pBIu39-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

You Searched For "cabinet secretariat department" and got 5 results

Goyal asks industry to expand export basket

PTI

PMO sets up high-level panels to deal with situation post lockdown; restore normalcy

PTI

Trump administration floats claims that tear-gassed women and children were 'human shields'

Ellen Cranley,Ellen Cranley

Narendra Modi Government May Take Up Bills UPA Failed To Pass

Times Of India

Trump is keeping the pressure up on Mexico, but he 'risks cutting off his nose to spite his face'

Christopher Woody