MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Tense relations between the United States and China are helping the United States understand the importance of a North American trade bloc, Mexico’s deputy foreign minister said on Friday, after negotiating a deal that ended steel tariffs in the region.

The official, Jesus Seade, also said the U.S. decision to lift steel and aluminium tariffs from Mexico and Canada will pave the way to pass the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade deal.