Mexico Is Among the Top 10 Countries Paying Washington Lobbyists Dolia Estevez - Forbes
go to original May 30, 2014

Mexico ranked fifth and is the only Latin American country among the 10-top countries that spent the most to push their agendas and interests in the U.S. in 2013, according to a new analysis by the Sunlight Foundation, a Washington-based nonprofit transparency group that tracks foreign influence in the U.S.

Based on records filed with the Department of Justice, the groups shows that during the first year of President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration, Mexico spent $6.1 million in lobbying efforts and legal services, plus an additional $4.2 million in tourist promotion. This brings the total price tag to $9.5 million.

Most of the firms hired by the Mexican government are held over from the previous administration of Felipe Calderón, which was notorious for throwing money around Washington particularly in public relations firms to try to improve Mexico’s image abroad.

After manufacturing, oil, remittances and foreign direct investment, tourism is Mexico’s fifth source of foreign revenue, according to Citigroup Inc.’s Banamex unit. With 24 million international visitors last year, tourism generated $12.7 billion in foreign exchange inflows.

Read the rest at Forbes

According to the Sunlight Foundation, the following are the 10-top countries that spent the most in lobbying in 2013:

United Arab Emirates, $14.1 million

Germany, $12 million

Canada, $11.2 million

Saudi Arabia, $11.2 million

Mexico, $6.1 million (plus $4.5 million in PR)

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!