The entry into force and implementation of the “Upgrading Protocol” is China's practical action to firmly uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system. It shows China's determination to work with other countries to safeguard multilateralism and free trade through free trade negotiations. The entry into force and implementation of the “Upgrading Protocol” will also promote Sino-Mexican economic and trade relations, enrich the content of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, create a more favorable business environment and trade and investment cooperation opportunities for enterprises of the two sides, and bring more practical benefits to the peoples of the two countries. The first is to keep pace with the times and comprehensively raise the level of commitment to rules. On the basis of the Sino-Mexican FTA, the “Upgrading Protocol” added topics such as standard cooperation, competition policy, e-commerce, global supply chain, environment, etc. in the form of separate chapters, improving and refining the relevant provisions of the original chapters on rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, intellectual property rights, trade in services, and temporary entry and investment of business personnel. Among them, the Global Supply Chain Chapter includes encouraging multimodal transport and promoting foreign trade logistics channels and infrastructure construction, etc., and is an innovative move between the two sides under the FTA, showing that the two countries are committed to jointly maintaining a stable and smooth supply chain; the Standards and Conformity Assessment Cooperation Agreement establishes a special cooperation mechanism and proposes a list of intended cooperation, which will build a platform for mutual recognition of standards and cooperation between the two countries and reduce trade costs between enterprises of the two countries. Second, there is mutual benefit and win-win situation, and continuous improvement of the trade and investment environment. In terms of trade in goods, electronic networking provisions are included to complete the transformation of specific rules of origin for products; detailed regulations are made on responses to requests, information exchange, customs clearance of goods, customs clearance of express shipments, and customs clearance of perishable goods; higher requirements are placed on the transparency of laws and regulations relating to hygiene and phytosanitary measures between the two countries, and consultation mechanisms are set up to resolve relevant technical issues in a timely manner. In terms of service investment, four specific annexes have been added, including professional services, transportation services, cultural and audiovisual service cooperation, and telecommunications services, to raise the level of regulation and cooperation in the service sector; include provisions on rapid entry application procedures for business personnel to improve the efficiency of visa processing; greatly improve the investment dispute settlement mechanism, refine the relevant provisions on most-favoured-nation treatment and expropriation, and provide strong guarantees for promoting mutual investment. The third is to face the future and continue to deepen the connotation of open cooperation. The two sides agreed to begin negotiations on a negative list of trade in services and investment within two years after the entry into force of the Upgrading Protocol, further raise the level of openness in services trade and investment between the two countries, and continue to explore the development potential of trade and investment between the two countries. Furthermore, the two sides also promised to review the competition section every two years in the future to assess the possibility of making higher commitments.

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