Trump welcomes US, Mexican cooperation

U.S. President Donald Trump and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico are preparing to sign a joint declaration of friendship and cooperation at the White House.

During remarks in the White House Rose Garden before the signing, Trump thanked López Obrador. "We're truly moved that you made your first foreign visit since taking office," to the White House.

The two leaders are also discussing the United States-Mexico-Canada trade deal, which took effect July 1. It replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was blamed for prompting U.S. companies to shift manufacturing to Mexico.

Lopez Obrador arrived at the White House after morning stops at the Lincoln Memorial and a statue of Benito Juarez, a former Mexican president and national hero.

About 20 U.S. and Mexican businessmen and women, including Carlos Slim, one of the richest men in the world, were to join the presidents for a working dinner.

Cooperation between the two countries allowed the flow of goods to continue across the U.S.-Mexico border despite shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the White House.

Mexico is the largest U.S. trading partner in goods, and during the pandemic the two nations worked closely to keep supply chains going so plants in both countries would not have to close because of a lack of parts from the other, officials said.