Beyond the Hemisphere, Mexico is negotiating a free-trade agreement with Israel, and has started talks for an investment agreement with Japan. Mexico's liberalization policies have promoted high levels of productive investment. This capital inflow has enabled the modernization and transformation of Mexico's economy. While in the 1980s raw materials and oil accounted for 80 percent of Mexico's exports, today manufactures make up 85 percent of total exports. Likewise, Mexico has been transformed from an assembler of goods into a reliable producer and exporter of sophisticated products, ranging from TV sets to automobiles, and refrigerators to computers.
Exports are the driving force behind Mexico's economic growth and job creation.
Exports growth account for half of Mexico's GDP growth. Exports have supported the creation of more and better paying jobs. More than half of the 2 million new jobs created since late 1995 are related to export activities. Mexico's open trade policy along with its network of free trade agreements have contributed to increased trade and investment flows. This has placed Mexico in a strategic position by securing access for its exporters to markets in North America, the European Union and Latin America.