Canceled Mexican Rail Contract Gives Chinese Firms Chance to Reflect

The Mexican government announced on November 4 that it had awarded its first high-speed rail contract to a Chinese-led consortium. But as the exciting news was still buzzing in the Chinese press, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto canceled the deal five days later.

As the media later reported, the consortium led by China Railway Construction Corp. (CRCC) was the only bidder, and it included a Mexican firm said to be very close to Nieto. Opposition parties vigorously questioned the legality and transparence of the bidding process, saying they suspected corruption.