• Mexico is the number one vacation destination for U.S. citizens with approximately 20 million visitors annually. Reasons for travel to Mexico include the warm, friendly people of Mexico, the beauty, culture and history, not to mention the strength of the U.S. dollar. In fact, it is more economical to vacation in Mexico than many domestic options, making it the only feasible vacation option for many Americans during a bad U.S. economy.

• U.S. relations with Mexico have a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans--whether the issue is trade and economic reform, homeland security, drug control, migration, or the environment. The U.S. and Mexico are partners in NAFTA, enjoying a broad and expanding trade relationship. Since the first North American Leaders’ Summit in 2005, the United States, Canada, and Mexico have been cooperating more closely on a trilateral basis to improve North American competitiveness, ensure the safety of our citizens, and promote clean energy and a healthy environment.

• The scope of U.S.-Mexican relations goes far beyond diplomatic and official contacts; it entails extensive commercial, cultural, and educational ties, as demonstrated by the annual figure of about a million legal border crossings a day. In addition, a million American citizens live in Mexico. More than 18,000 companies with U.S. investment have operations there, and the U.S. accounts for more than 40% of all foreign direct investment in Mexico.

• Mexico is an active and constructive member of the World Trade Organization, the G-20, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Mexican Government and many businesses support a Free Trade Area of the Americas.

• Mexico is the United States’ second-largest export market and third-largest trading partner. Top U.S. exports to Mexico include electronic equipment, motor vehicle parts, and chemicals. These exports generate revenue that is critical to U.S. companies and the U.S. economy.

• Fruit and vegetable exports from Mexico have increased dramatically in recent years, exceeding $4.7 billion to the United States alone in 2009. If not for this import, U.S. citizens would pay higher prices for its fruits and vegetables.

• In 2009, Mexico was the world's seventh-largest producer of crude oil, and the second-largest supplier of oil to the U.S.

• Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico for 2009 was $14.4 billion, down 51% from the previous year. The U.S. was once again the largest foreign investor in Mexico, accounting for 45% ($6.4 billion FDI from the U.S.) of reported FDI. The economic slowdown in the U.S. in 2008 and 2009 caused a significant decline in this figure. The Mexican Government estimate of FDI for 2010 is $15 billion to $20 billion.

Source: www.mexicotruth.com