Since the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the importance of the Hispanic market in California and the border there have grown steadily. Currently, the economic relationship with California is one of Mexico’s most important relationships within the United States.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, exports from California to Mexico totaled 25.4 billion dollars in 2014, compared to 6.5 billion dollars in 1993.
Mexico is California’s second largest supplier, providing over 10% of its total imports. California is Mexico’s third largest importer of the 50 U.S. states.
Mexico has 10 consulates in California to serve the Mexican population living in or visiting the state: (in Fresno, Los Angeles, Oxnard, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Ana, and two on the border, in Calexico and San Diego).
While in San Francisco, Foreign Secretary Ruiz Massieu met with community leaders in the Bay Area. She highlighted the contributions of the Mexican community there and explained the various programs of the Mexican government for emigrants, the productive investment of remittances and dual nationality.
She also met with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Senator Dianne Feinstein. With Mayor Lee, the Foreign Secretary discussed the importance of the Mexican community for the city’s economic and social development.
To conclude her visit, she will attend the "Latinas in Tech" event and the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Mexican Museum.