Clegg’s Mexico trip seeks to encourage trade

The deputy prime minister embarks on a trade and political mission to Mexico on Monday, admitting Britain had “turned its back” on a country that was predicted in the coming decades to become the world’s seventh biggest economy.

Nick Clegg wants to boost Britain’s exports to Mexico but says his trade delegation does not contain any arms manufacturers; David Cameron, prime minister, was criticised last month for touring Gulf states with leading defence figures.

Instead, he will be accompanied by representatives of four UK universities and a range of companies including BHP Billiton, Arup and Diageo, all hoping to increase Britain’s 1 per cent share of Mexican imports.

He said British companies were especially keen on expanding into Mexico’s growing infrastructure market. MI6, the intelligence agency, is helping in the fight against drugs, but Mr Clegg said his trip was “not majoring” on that issue.

“I think I’m the first senior British politician to go to Mexico on a bilateral visit in over a decade,” he said. “Frankly that tells you all you need to know – and what a mistake it has been for our country to ignore this relationship.”

Mr Clegg admitted UK trade with Mexico was “minuscule”. His mission was part of a wider government effort to build relations and trade with emerging economies.

His deployment to Mexico is a sign that Mr Cameron wants to make use of his deputy’s linguistic skills: Mr Clegg will give a speech to the Mexican Senate in Spanish.

Mr Clegg’s mission also takes in a short stop in Washington, where he will discuss the Libya crisis with Hillary Clinton, secretary of state, and Joe Biden, US vice-president.