Kenneth Smith Ramos has one of the world’s most stressful jobs. As the Mexican Ministry of Economy’s man leading trade relations with the US, he has his work cut out. President Donald Trump’s administration wasted no time in calling for a revision or abandonment of Nafta, the North American Free Trade Agreement that binds the two countries and Canada. Nafta is “the worst trade deal ever”, according to Mr Trump. Mexico’s economy has grown to depend on it.
Yet, when The Banker called his office on Pennsylvania Avenue, a couple of blocks from the White House, Mr Smith Ramos discussed his activity in the capital with the energy and enthusiasm of someone about to embark on a promising negotiation.
