(Refiles to fix mispelling of “conducting” in paragraph 5)
MEXICO CITY, April 1 (Reuters) – Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente will leave his post due to health reasons, local media outlets reported on Wednesday.
Roberto Velasco, currently the head of the North America department at the foreign ministry, is set to take his place, the reports said.
De la Fuente went on medical leave for surgery last November. Reuters was not able to immediately confirm the local media reports or whether the leave will be permanent.
The Mexican foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for regional trade. The three member nations of the USMCA — Mexico, the United States, and Canada — are conducting a joint review of the trade pact this year.
Originally negotiated during the first Trump administration to replace NAFTA in 2020, the agreement serves as the foundation of the Mexican economy.
(Reporting by Natalia Siniawski and Diego Ore; Editing by Brendan O’Boyle)
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