Mexico's economy ministry, in an apparent reference to US President-elect Donald Trump, rejected on Friday any threats made to deter companies from investing in the country. Trump threatened this week to slap import tariffs on US automaker General Motors for importing cars it makes in Mexico and Japan's Toyota for planning a new factory in the southern neighbour.

Ford also announced that it was cancelling a $1.6 billion new factory in the northern state of San Luis Potosi, which had been criticised by Trump, though the company said the decision was business-related. Without mentioning Trump or any government, the economy ministry said in a statement that it "categorically rejects any attempt to influence the investment decisions of companies on the basis of fear or threats."

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2017