"We have the same opinion on it," Merkel said, standing side by side with President Enrique Pena Nieto. "Germany will advocate speedy negotiations to try and conclude the talks this year."
Germany has also been following Mexico’s talks with the United States and Canada on the regional NAFTA trade pact that is to be renegotiated after Washington threatened to quit over lost jobs.
"We have a continuing dialogue and looking with optimism at the opportunity to modernize this free trade agreement," he told reporters.
The president added he wanted German firms to see Mexico as a reliable investment target. He estimated trade between Mexico and Germany at an annual $18 billion, saying the EU-Mexico trade deal would shore up trade between the two countries.
Merkel thanked the Mexican leader for taking the interests of foreign firms into account during talks with the new US administration. She said Berlin wanted to cooperate with both Mexico and the United States.