PHOENIX — Mexico's ambassador to the U.S., Martha Barcena, took her first official trip to Arizona this week.
Barcena is the first woman to ever hold the position and took over back in January. The ambassador met with Gov. Doug Ducey Tuesday and focused most of her comments on trade.
"I don't think our relationship has ever been better," Gov. Ducey said about Arizona-Mexico relations.
The focus of the talks was the UMCSA, a new trade agreement that needs to be ratified by the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The deal would replace NAFTA, which has been in effect for the last few decades.
"What we have worked hard is to separate trade issues from other issues," Ducey said.
Martha Barcena is no stranger to the state. She said she has family living here.
"My brother, a U.S. citizen that lives in Arizona, and my sister-in-law, who is also a U.S. citizen and proudly Arizonans," Barcena said.
While the focus of the meeting was on trade, immigration and the border were also brought up.
On the issue of immigration, Mexico's ambassador said, "I would like to see that all the debate on immigration is based on facts and realities."
During a luncheon, Barcena said she is half American; her grandmother emigrated from America to Mexico in the early 1900s.
"And she lived all her life in Mexico undocumented."