In casting doubt about the future of the USMCA, Trump repeated previous negative remarks, claiming that the only reason he approved it in the first place was that its predecessor NAFTA was worse, and that the best thing about the agreement was that it had an expiration date. (Donald J. Trump/Facebook)
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is not seeking to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the free trade pact that superseded NAFTA in 2020 and is subject to a review process this year. However, he subsequently softened his language, saying that he didn’t know whether he would renew the trilateral trade pact during the formal review talks.
In the Oval Office, a reporter asked Trump how confident he was about being able to renew the USMCA, which governs around US $2 trillion in annual trade between the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Speaking from the Mexico side, Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico is prepared for the next round of talks starting Monday and will stay all week if necessary, continuing to push for renewal of the agreement and relief from the punitive tariffs that Trump imposed on Mexico. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro.com)
“… I mean I made the deal, and the primary reason I made the deal is that NAFTA was the worst trade deal I’ve ever seen,” Trump said.
“…USMCA did one thing that I loved. After six years it comes up for renewal. I don’t know that I’m going to renew it because to be honest with you, the United States … doesn’t need anything that Canada has, we don’t need anything that Mexico has, but they need everything that we have,” he said.
“And they have to treat us better. You know, with Mexico and Canada we have trade deficits. We should have surpluses with them. We don’t need their cars, we don’t need their lumber, we don’t need their energy, we don’t need anything that they have,” Trump said.
He subsequently said that the USMCA — which underpins deep economic integration in North America — was “sort of a good deal” but a “great deal for one reason: it gave the right to terminate.”
Any country can withdraw from the USMCA by giving the other two parties six months’ notice. Even if the United States refuses to renew the deal in 2026, the earliest the trade pact itself could lapse — assuming no one uses that exit clause — is 2036
“I want to see Mexico and Canada do well, but the problem is we don’t need their product,” he said at the time.
Trump also said in January that the USMCA provides “no real advantage” to the United States and is “irrelevant” to him.
His remarks on Wednesday came after Mexican and U.S officials held bilateral USMCA talks in late May. Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard subsequently notified U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc that Mexico wishes to extend the USMCA for an additional 16 years to 2042. Canada also wants to extend the trilateral pact.
Trump’s Oval Office remarks cast doubt on the likelihood that the three countries will reach an agreement to renew the USMCA. However, they don’t necessarily mean that the United States will oppose the renewal of the pact or withdraw from it. It would appear more likely that the Trump administration will seek to make changes to the agreement so that it is more favorable to U.S. interests. The threat to withdraw from, or “terminate,” the USMCA could help it to achieve that.
A second round of Mexico-U.S. trade talks is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., next week.
Ebrard: Mexico is ‘prepared’ for the USMCA review
On Wednesday morning, just a few hours before Trump offered his views on North American trade, Economy Minister Ebrard spoke at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s press conference about the upcoming talks with the United States.
“We have the next round of conversations with the United States next week,” he said, noting that Mexico’s delegation would be in Washington until at least Thursday June 18.
“We’re going to be there the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th. On the 18th I have a long meeting with the person responsible for the [USMCA] review negotiations for the United States,” Ebrard said, referring to Ambassador Greer.
“We’re going to be focused [on trade talks] the whole week. … If it’s necessary we’ll stay until Friday,” he said.
Ebrard said that Mexico is “prepared” for the review talks and has its “arguments” ready. In addition to seeking agreement on an extension of the USMCA, Mexico is looking for tariff relief from the United States, which last year imposed duties on Mexican vehicles, steel and aluminum.
On Wednesday morning, Ebrard framed the very act of holding talks with the United States as a win for Mexico.
“It wasn’t known if we were going to have these formal talks or not. … They are underway and we’ll be there next week,” he said.
Later in the press conference, Ebrard highlighted that — despite the United States’ imposition of tariffs on various Mexican exports — Mexico is in a better position than other countries around the world vis-à-vis trade with the U.S. Indeed, the vast majority of the trade of goods between Mexico and the United States — worth US $872.8 billion in 2025 — occurs tariff-free thanks to the USMCA.
For Mexico, Ebrard said, trade with the U.S. is “cheaper” than it is for “many competitors.”
“For example, it’s more expensive for Vietnam, for the European Union, for many countries of South America as well,” he said.
“So we have a favorable position thanks to the calls the presidenta has made to President Trump and the things we have worked on [with the United States],” Ebrard said.
“The goal is to maintain that position during this process of review of the agreement,” he said.
Ebrard said that the review of the USMCA doesn’t have to be concluded on July 1, but rather the formal review — with representation from the United States, Mexico and Canada — commences on that date.
President Sheinbaum spoke Tuesday with a representative of a financial institution with assets valued at US $3.2 trillion and a presence in every market worldwide. (Presidencia)
President Sheinbaum met Tuesday with Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, one of the world’s largest financial institutions.
Few details came out of the closed meeting, but the president wrote on her X social media site, “At the National Palace, I received Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, the world’s most valuable bank by market capitalization. We discussed the favorable outlook for Mexico, the strength of our economy, and the importance of the North American trade agenda.”
JPMorgan has assets valued at US $3.2 trillion and a presence in every market worldwide.
The company holds the top position in investment banking, asset management, financial transaction processing, commercial banking and financial services for both consumers and small businesses.
Earlier this year, Dimon announced an ambitious strategy to strengthen the U.S. economy and national security.
In his annual letter to shareholders, published in April, the CEO stated that the United States must build strength to maintain its economic and military leadership, while announcing initiatives through which JPMorgan will seek to mobilize over one trillion dollars in investment over the next decade.
Dimon highlighted the company’s Security and Resiliency Initiative, which aims to channel resources to strategic sectors, including infrastructure, energy, technology, artificial intelligence and critical supply chains. These investments, Dimon says, are necessary to enhance U.S. competitiveness in the face of current geopolitical challenges. The CEO emphasized that international conflicts, inflation and stagflation could threaten the global economy if not addressed.
In Mexico, U.S. trade tariffs and the review process for the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) have cast a shadow over the country’s economic activity in recent months.
On June 2, Mexico and Canada requested that the USMCA be renewed for another 16 years. However, President Trump cast doubts on Wednesday on the future of the USMCA in its current form.
Nevertheless, the Sheinbaum government’s overarching Plan México investment strategy has helped attract investment to the economy and encourage nearshoring activities from a broad range of sources.
In announcing his free beer policy, Samuel García, Nuevo Leon's partying governor, made a confession: The special cultural events taking place in his state are not for the edification of visitors, as he has been saying, but for the enjoyment of locals. (Samuel García/Facebook/Canva)
Shortly after declaring himself to be in “party mode” for the duration of the World Cup, Nuevo León Governor Samuel García proved that he meant it Sunday by announcing that free beer, soft drinks and carne asada will be offered at the World Cup’s Fan Fest in Monterrey, the state capital.
The announcement came during his speech at the Mega Northern Cavalcade, an event billed as a showcase of the traditions and culture of northeastern Mexico for the foreign teams and fans visiting the region for the World Cup.
Que chulada la Selección de Japón con sombrero 🤠🤠🤠
Bienvenidos al Mundial más Norteño
NUEVO LEÓN. 🇯🇵🇲🇽🦁⚽️ pic.twitter.com/hKevhhCVsg
Since Monterrey was announced as a host city, García has constantly referred to the tournament as “el mundial más norteño” (the most Northern World Cup), referring to his and other northern states’ culture of norteño music, carne asada, horseback riding and a distinctive way of speaking.
Using an informal tone, García said that even though his government has promoted the Fan Fest as an event for visitors, it is actually intended primarily for the people of Nuevo León.
“We say that this event is for those who come from abroad, but that’s not true. That’s what we say in Japan,” he said, perhaps referring to his recent business trip to Asia. “This is for you. So bring your family, and have a spectacular summer.”
FIFA’s Fan Fest at the Parque Fundidora in Monterrey from June 11 through July 19 will feature performances by local, national and international artists, including Chayanne (Jun 13), Imagine Dragons (Jun 21), Grupo Firme (Jun 24), and Enrique Iglesias (Jun 28).
Alongside these shows, the festival will feature a “Live Stage,” presenting more than 40 performances throughout the 34 days of activities, as well as giant screens showing every World Cup match live, in addition to hospitality areas and interactive play areas.
Besides the free beer, the Monterrey Fan Fest is the only one that sells alcoholic beverages to attendees. Alcohol consumption is banned at all the others.
FIFA's "Premium Package," which includes chips, chicken wings, a cheese table, salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, premium brand alcoholic beverages and soda, costs approximately US $1,250, or around 22,000 pesos, per head per match. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Football fans who watch World Cup matches from box seats at the Mexico City stadium face extremely hefty food and beverage bills.
However, another federal judge overrode that injunction, ruling that box owners must respect FIFA rules and therefore cannot take their own food and beverages into the stadium, and cannot park their cars in the stadium precinct. The ruling, which came in response to a challenge filed by stadium owner Ollamani, and which favors FIFA, was published by the federal judiciary on Tuesday, just two days before the World Cup opening ceremony and first match — Mexico vs. South Africa — will take place at Mexico City Stadium.
Bloomberg reported that FIFA’s “Premium Package,” which includes chips, chicken wings, a cheese table, salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, premium brand alcoholic beverages and soda, costs US $75,000 for 12 people for all five World Cup matches at Mexico City Stadium. Thus, the per-head, per-match price is $1,250, or around 22,000 pesos.
Bloomberg reported that “the cheapest package includes food and water but no alcohol and costs $35,400 for 12 people for all five games.”
“Prices are adjusted on a per-seat basis,” noted the news agency. In other words, hospitality packages for larger 20-seat or 27-seat boxes, for example, are considerably more expensive.
Box owners face large bills, but at least they’ll be in the stadium
As Mexico News Daily reported last month, FIFA requires full and complete control of stadiums during the World Cup, and therefore box seat owners were informed they would not be permitted to use them during the tournament.
Mexico sought to arrange compensatory payments to box owners who ceded their rights to FIFA, but a large group resisted and in September 2025 Banorte Stadium management reached a deal with FIFA to grant box owners full access to their seats during the World Cup.
A sanguine assessment of the situation by box owners — among whom are very wealthy people whose families purchased 99-year ownership contracts to the suites in the 1960s — might be something along the lines of: “We have to cough up a small fortune to eat and drink during the World Cup matches, but at least we’re not locked out of the stadium.”
However, Roberto Ruano, the head of a box owners’ association, wasn’t in a particularly positive mood after he was blocked on Tuesday from taking food and beverages into the stadium ahead of Thursday’s match.
“[Stadium officials] approached to say ‘We have an injunction’ and we’re not going to allow the entry [of provisions]. That’s all they said,” he told reporters.
“… We will try [again] to take in food and drinks because we’re not going to pay a million pesos for sandwiches for five days,” said Ruano, who asserted that box owners have the legal right to take their own provisions into the stadium.
The cost of FIFA’s “Premium Package” for 12 people on five match days is actually 1.3 million pesos at the current exchange rate.
Balfre Morales, a lawyer for the box owners’ association headed up by Ruano, said on Tuesday that the association had not been formally notified of the ruling that overrode the injunction allowing box owners to take food and beverages into the stadium.
“We’ll have to look at how this suspension is set out,” he said, adding that he believed that the injunction granted last month remained valid.
Ruano asserted that a prohibition on taking food and beverages into stadium boxes is a “flagrant violation of our contracts,” and indicated that box owners would seek compensation if they are ultimately unable to do so.
All other World Cup stadiums turned over their boxes to FIFA
Bloomberg reported on May 30 that “Mexico City Stadium is the only one of the 16 venues across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada that didn’t have to turn over coveted boxes to FIFA for the World Cup games this summer.”
Mexico City Stadium (Banorte) is the only stadium where box seat owners were allowed to retain their access during the World Cup. (Tomás Pérez de la Cruz/Cuartoscuro)
The news agency also reported that some box owners were attempting to rent out their boxes on World Cup match days.
“A 27-seat suite that has one of the best views of the pitch is asking 27 million pesos, or $1.6 million, for all five games being played at Banorte Stadium, according to a post seen by Bloomberg News. Another 15-person suite is asking 7.5 million pesos,” Bloomberg wrote.
“… WhatsApp groups and a Facebook group are ablaze with ads for the suites, and brokers are writing up contracts between box owners and soccer fans willing to shell millions of pesos,” the report said.
“Word of the underground market has reached FIFA and Ollamani, which on May 11 sent out notices to box owners warning them that any ticket found to be a transfer or sale that goes against the rules can be canceled,” Bloomberg wrote.
Poll results from AmCham's March 2026 survey with the U.S.-Mexico Foundation. (AmCham)
This is my tenth “Regional Utopia” essay, and it might be the last. After more than 20 essays in this series and the previous one, I have avoided this topic. I am no expert on security. But if we really want to build a North American Regional Utopia, we cannot skip it. Security cooperation between Mexico and the U.S. has to be part of the picture. Let’s get to it.
For years, the headlines told one story: cartels running wild, drug lords everywhere and fingers pointing straight at the Mexican government. It felt like an endless episode of Narcos. But I am here to share a more optimistic view. Here comes the plot twist.
Under President Claudia Sheinbaum and Security Minister Omar García Harfuch, real results are starting to show. Things might get uglier before they get better, but the private sector is already noticing the change, U.S. attitudes are shifting from frustration to cautious hope and the big arrests keep coming. Let’s look at the numbers.
First, the view from the companies I know best.
AmCham’s 2024 Security Survey asked about 220 firms about the security situation in Mexico — half of them Mexican, most of them large players spread across the country. The headline is simple: optimism is back. The share of companies that feel more secure than the year before jumped from 17% to 39%. Those who think next year will be safer rose from 29% to 43%. This does not mean everything is fine. Insecurity is still the biggest “anti-competitiveness tax” our companies pay. 58% of them now spend between 2 and 10% of their annual budget on security! — steady from before, but with more money going into technology, crisis plans and better training. 60% still feel the impact of common and organized crime. 84% say the rule of law barely exists, and 85% feel illegality is hurting their business. Even so, the trend is turning.
There is a particular gleam of hope coming from Mexico City. Under Sheinbaum’s time as mayor — right before becoming president — Mexico City moved away from being a leading city for crime and insecurity. Firms are even moving operations there from hotter states like Guanajuato or Michoacán. The private sector in Mexico is saying, quietly but clearly: we are not okay yet, but the signs are finally pointing in the right direction.
Now, let’s look north. U.S. voters have long seen Mexico as the neighborhood troublemaker, and our March 2026 survey with the U.S.-Mexico Foundation confirms why: fentanyl trafficking and cartel violence top the list of reasons they call Mexico a “bad neighbor.”
But the same poll shows something else shifting. Support for real security cooperation and law enforcement is growing, especially when people see it as a joint win against a shared problem. Voters understand that a stable Mexico is not charity — it is supply-chain insurance, energy security, nearshoring strength and, most importantly, fewer drugs reaching U.S. streets. The old zero-sum thinking no longer works. When Washington sees concrete Mexican action, attitudes warm up fast. And action is exactly what they are seeing now.
The scoreboard tells the story. The border is getting under control. Fentanyl seizures at the Southwest Border have dropped sharply, down roughly 37 to 57% year-over-year in key metrics through early 2026. At the same time, U.S. overdose deaths have fallen nationwide. Provisional CDC data through late 2025 show a 15 to 37% drop in synthetic-opioid fatalities in most states.
2025 illegal border crossing numbers show a vast difference compared to 2024. Source: Orange County Register
Credit goes to steady Mexican operations done hand-in-hand with American intelligence: clandestine labs taken down, precursor chemicals stopped and a string of major kingpin takedowns. “El Mayo” Zambada has been in U.S. custody since 2024. Rafael Caro Quintero was extradited. Several leaders of the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel were handed over. And in February 2026, Mexican special forces killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes in Tapalpa, Jalisco — the CJNG’s longtime boss and one of the most violent figures in recent history. This was not one lucky raid. Mexico has extradited or transferred more than 90 high-level criminals to the United States in the past year alone — in rounds of 29, 26 and 37. Labs have been burned, weapons seized and intelligence sharing with the DEA and CIA is at historic levels, according to both governments. Harfuch — known in Washington as “Batman” — has become the trusted partner. U.S. officials I have spoken with say it plainly: cooperation with Mexico under Sheinbaum and Harfuch is better than ever.
The old “hugs not bullets” policy gave the cartels breathing room. That era is over.
The state now has the momentum: intelligence-led policing, financial tracking and strong binational pressure. The 2026 World Cup co-hosting gives everyone extra reason to keep the peace.
Eduardo Guerrero, Mexico’s sharpest analyst on organized crime, put it well in his recent Nexos piece after El Mencho’s death: the CJNG will not disappear overnight. It is well organized, with strong regional bosses and steady cash flows. But steady pressure on the second- and third-tier leaders, the logistics networks and the people who protect them can slowly wear it down without sparking new chaos. Guerrero sees a real window: use better intelligence, U.S. technology and target the money. Violence may spike in some places, such as Baja, Guanajuato, or Michoacán, during the transition, but the national trend favors the government if it stays focused.
So what comes next?
AmCham’s Security Committee has a practical plan that fits perfectly with Guerrero’s thinking and with the current binational economic mood. Focus first on secure corridors — highways, ports, and border crossings — with National Guard support, cameras, drones and real input from private companies on maintenance and quick alerts. Create safer stopovers for truckers: places with fuel, mechanics and patrols so goods (and drivers) are not easy targets. Strengthen cybersecurity with a national strategy that lines up with USMCA Chapter 19 — trilateral meetings, training for small businesses, shared threat reports and clear risk rules. Improve intelligence sharing, set clear performance goals for police and prosecutors and build one simple system for reporting stolen vehicles. Most importantly, keep the conversation open between the government and business. Companies already spend heavily on their own protection; now bring them into the national plan without the old mistrust. Stable supply chains, energy flows, nearshoring factories and tourism all depend on trust.
In a conversation I had with Eduardo Guerrero earlier this week, he mentioned the need for a new Mexican proposal for deeper security cooperation with the United States. We should use this momentum. Bring in experts from every side — no matter their political preferences. We need all the brains and experience we can get, and we need a clear, forward-looking strategy, not imposed by the U.S. but based on local expertise.
People always debate cooperation versus sovereignty. My view is simple: we lost a big part of our sovereignty to organized crime many years ago. Stronger cooperation does not take sovereignty away — it helps us get it back. Sovereignty alone will not let my kid walk safely in the streets. Honesty matters. Admitting we need all the help we can get will bring faster, longer-lasting results.
We are not popping champagne yet (not even close). Cartels adapt, corruption still exists and voters on both sides are impatient. But the data, the arrests, the extraditions and the quiet optimism in boardrooms tell a different story. Mexico gave the bad guys a head start. Yet it seems we have grabbed the wheel back. Under Sheinbaum and Harfuch, we are driving toward something bigger.
A secure neighborhood is not a luxury — it is the basic ingredient for a healthier, more productive society. That is what we all want. Let’s stop pointing fingers (if it’s the U.S. fault for supplying the guns, or the Mexicans for sending out the drugs) and keep working together for the safety of our communities on both sides of the border.
Pedro Casas Alatriste is the Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (AmCham). Previously, he has been the Director of Research and Public Policy at the US-Mexico Foundation in Washington, D.C. and the Coordinator of International Affairs at the Business Coordinating Council (CCE). He has also served as a consultant to the Inter-American Development Bank. Follow his Substack here.
Asked for a score forecast, President Sheinbaum declined, offering only "good vibes" for the Mexican national team. (Saúl López Escorcia/Presidencia)
Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
🏟️ Protests won’t stop fans reaching stadium for World Cup opener: Sheinbaum dismissed concerns that Thursday’s planned demonstrations near Mexico City Stadium would impede World Cup fans, saying “everything is under control” and recommending fans simply leave earlier than usual to reach the venue in time for the opening ceremony.
🎪❓ Zócalo Fan Festival opening in doubt: The president raised the possibility that the FIFA Fan Festival in Mexico City’s main square may not open on Thursday — likely due to the CNTE protest camp nearby — and directed fans to 18 alternative free viewing sites across the capital. An official announcement was expected Wednesday afternoon.
👮♀️ Security guaranteed for World Cup tourists: Sheinbaum insisted that visitors to Mexico during the tournament would enjoy “complete safety.” She cited rising international tourism figures and noted that Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey are all seeing an influx of arrivals ahead of the 13 matches to be played in Mexico.
✈️🕳️ CDMXAirport “perfect” despite structural incidents: The president declared AICM fully operational, despite a sinkhole appearing on a Terminal 2 vehicle ramp and a pedestrian bridge section falling last week. She said a second and third phase of renovations would follow after the World Cup.
⚽ President to monitor opening day closely: Sheinbaum said she must remain “attentive to everything that happens” on Thursday — security, protests, logistics — whether she watches the Mexico–South Africa match at a fan site or from the National Palace.
🍀🇲🇽 No prediction, just good vibes for El Tri: Asked for a score forecast, Sheinbaum declined, offering only “good vibes” for the Mexican national team before closing the press conference with three World Cup videos and a wish of good luck to El Tri.
Why today’s mañanera matters
The start of the FIFA men’s World Cup is now just one day away, and the situation in Mexico City — where the opening ceremony and first match will take place on Thursday — is not exactly as authorities would like.
Various groups of protesters plan to descend on the Mexico City Stadium on Thursday just as the Mexico-South Africa match is kicking off, but President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday asserted that demonstrations would not cause problems for football fans traveling to the arena better known as Azteca Stadium (Estadio Azteca).
Among the other significant remarks the president made at today’s mañanera was her revelation that the FIFA Fan Festival in the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square, may not open on Thursday. Sheinbaum didn’t cite a specific reason why the Fan Festival might not open, but teachers affiliated with the CNTE teachers’ union have been protesting in the area for weeks, and their presence on Thursday could potentially create security concerns.
While most of Mexico’s World Cup focus is currently on Mexico City, Guadalajara is also gearing up to host a match on Thursday. South Korea will take on the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Sheinbaum: Protests won’t affect World Cup fans’ travel to Mexico City Stadium
A reporter asked the president whether there were any concerns about World Cup fans’ capacity to reach the Mexico City Stadium due to the protests planned for Thursday.
“None,” Sheinbaum responded. “Everything is under control.”
She agreed with the reporter’s suggestion that fans should leave early to make their way to the stadium, located in the southern Mexico City borough of Coyoacán.
“So that there is no problem, there is a recommendation to leave earlier,” Sheinbaum said.
“[Fans] will arrive at the stadium and it will be a very good opening ceremony,” she said before wishing the Mexican national team success in its opening match.
Sheinbaum raises the possibility that the FIFA Fan Festival in the Zócalo won’t open on Thursday
Asked whether she had decided where she would watch the Mexico-South Africa match, Sheinbaum responded:
“Yes. It’s very important. If for any reason the Zócalo can’t open on the day of the inauguration, there are 18 [additional fan] sites in Mexico City that were planned in advance by the mayor. … There are 18 sites you can attend without any problem. … I will take a decision in due course about whether we watch it here [in the National Palace] or whether I go to one of the 18 sites.”
Sheinbaum said that an announcement about the FIFA Fan Festival in the Zócalo — located adjacent to the National Palace in the historic center of Mexico City and near a large teachers’ protest camp — would likely be made on Wednesday afternoon.
⚽🎤 ¡A solo 2 días del Mundial 2026! Así luce el enorme escenario instalado en el Zócalo de la CDMX para la máxima fiesta del futbol.
Con pantallas gigantes, luces y montaje casi listo, el corazón de la capital ya se transforma en punto de reunión para miles de aficionados que… pic.twitter.com/jLpifXziCC
“But if the Zócalo can’t be used for the inauguration for any reason, there are 18 sites where you can watch the match for free,” she said.
Sheinbaum: No security concerns for World Cup tourists in Mexico
Sheinbaum asserted that tourists visiting Mexico during the World Cup will enjoy “complete safety.”
She highlighted that international tourism to Mexico has increased this year, and noted that visitors are arriving in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey for the upcoming World Cup matches, 13 of which will be played in Mexico.
“Mexico is in vogue,” Sheinbaum said, using a phrase that has become something akin to a tourism slogan for the federal government.
Sheinbaum: Mexico City airport is ‘perfect’
A sinkhole appeared on a vehicle access ramp at Terminal 2 of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) this week and part of a pedestrian bridge at the airport detached and fell to the ground last week, but Sheinbaum asserted that AICM is in “perfect” condition.
“The first stage of the [upgrade to] the Benito Juárez International Airport was completed on time and [the airport] is operating very well,” she said.
“… After the World Cup, the second and third stages of the remodeling are coming,” Sheinbaum said.
Asked whether there was any concern about protests at AICM during the World Cup, the president responded:
“Both the Mexico City government and the government of Mexico are prepared. There is a lot of coordination and there is no problem.”
Sheinbaum says she will be attentive to ‘everything that happens’ on the opening day of the World Cup
Sheinbaum told reporters that she “obviously” has to be “attentive to everything that happens” during the opening day of the World Cup, the 23rd edition of the tournament.
“There is a [government] team that is in charge, but I have to be attentive,” she said.
President Claudia Sheinbaum renewed a tradition Monday as she addressed the Mexican national team (El Tri) in an official sendoff ceremony before they open the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday. (José Luis Conde/Presidencia)
Sheinbaum said she would be monitoring World Cup issues closely — including any security concerns or disruptions by protesters —whether she watches the opening match at one of the 18 fan sites in Mexico City or “right here” at the National Palace.
Sheinbaum declines to make a prediction on the Mexico-South Africa match
Julio Saldaña of Guadalajara's elite Urban Search and Rescue unit led the dramatic rescue efforts after a Sinaloa mine collapse. (USAR)
On April 7, 2026, a 42-year-old miner named Francisco Zapata was discovered alive after being trapped for 14 days at the far end of a three-kilometer-long tunnel full of sludge and water, 300 meters below the surface.
Julio Saldaña, leader of the eight-man team rescue team who saved Zapata from the mine, has spoken about the rescue for the first time, telling Mexico News Daily how the dramatic escape unfolded.
USAR’s eight-man unit is briefed on the challenges that lie ahead as they attempt to rescue a miner trapped for 14 days. (USAR)
La Mina Santa Fe is located in a remote spot 70 kilometers southeast of Mazatlán. After extracting gold and silver from the mine, the operators were storing the liquified tailings in a dam, unwisely located directly above one of the tunnels leading into the mine. The “mud” in this pool consisted of finely ground silica, clay and silt, possibly mixed with reagents like cyanide, plus traces of arsenic, lead, zinc and manganese, along with sulfide minerals.
175,000 meters of muck
On March 25, the floor of the tailings pool collapsed, and 175,000 cubic meters of toxic sludge poured into the mine. Most of the men inside managed to escape with their lives, but six days after the event, three men were still not accounted for.
“At 8:00 pm on March 30, 40 of us set out from Guadalajara,” USAR commander Julio Saldaña told me. “We drove nonstop for 24 hours with 16 tons of equipment and two dogs. When we arrived, we found that the Army, the Navy, Protección Civil and the Red Cross were all present … and they were all frustrated.”
The new arrivals discovered that both of the mine’s entrance tunnels were filled with tailings mud.
“There was simply no way to proceed,” said Saldaña. “That stuff was not your ordinary mud. If you put your foot into it, you couldn’t pull it back out — the cohesion of that muck was unbelievable!”
La Mina Santa Fe, located 70 kilometers southeast of Mazatlán, had very unusual mud after the cave-in, which made rescue efforts far more challenging. (USAR)
The missing miners were at the end of three kilometers of this toxic sludge, and all the rescuers were trying to figure out how to reach them.
Hot, humid, and pitch dark
“So we sent for wooden planks, 60 centimeters wide by 2.2 meters long and we started placing them on top of the mud, in a straight line, one after the other. Now, sometimes there was only a space of 50 centimeters above the boards and, of course, the ventilation, lighting and electrical systems had been knocked out by the mud flow. So, the whole time, we had total darkness, 100% humidity, and a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius — that’s 100 degrees Fahrenheit!”
The longer the boardwalk grew, the farther the next board had to be carried from the mine entrance.
“We had to carefully watch each other and run to help anybody who fell into that tailings soup.”
At this speed, it took six days to reach the area where the miners were supposedly trapped.
Visibility zero
“The mud petered out, and we were now faced with a 50-meter-long pool of toxic water, at the end of which there was a vado, a water-filled, V-shaped sump. To get past that, we needed divers.”
At this stage of the rescue, divers were needed to overcome the difficulties posed by a 50-meter-long pool of toxic water and a water-filled sump. (USAR)
Three military divers were brought in. These reported a visibility of absolute zero. On top of that was the danger of exposure to unknown chemicals in the water.
“Such being the case,” said Saldaña, “we decided to try pumping out the water. But that meant bringing a 400-kilo pump over the boardwalk.
“Imagine that! We made a kind of cart, with one guy pushing and one pulling, and, of course, we had to have an electrical cord three kilometers long. The CFE supplied that, along with great maps of the mine, so we knew just what was coming up next.”
Trench foot and despair
“At this point, most of us had trench foot. Ten of us had been hurt. After a week of frustration, my compañeros were asking, ‘When are we going home?’ I went back to camp and woke up at 6 a.m. to a beautiful moon. ‘This is the day!’ I said to myself.”
When Saldaña reached the end of the tunnel, he found the water level much lower. The divers decided to try passing the sump.
Following standard procedure for this, two divers went into the sump holding onto a rope while the third stayed at the sump entrance, feeding the line to them. Communication was via short tugs on the rope.
The divers who disappeared
The rescue efforts required to save Francisco Zapata were extraordinary and took great courage and heroism. (USAR)
“Fifteen minutes passed,” said Saldaña, “and suddenly the third diver turned to me. There was a look of panic on his face. He lifted his hand, and there was the end of the rope, dangling. The two divers had broken the golden rule of cave diving and had let go of the rope!
“I was in charge, and now I felt responsible for two deaths. We were preparing to send somebody back up to the surface with the bad news when suddenly the two missing divers popped up. One of them took off his regulator and shouted, ‘¡Está vivo! He’s alive!’
“Well, I went from grief to gratitude to surprise all at once. But how could anyone be alive after 14 days without food or water? That was impossible!”
I knew you would come for me
The senior diver explained. They had gone through the sump until they had no more rope. They were about to return when “Suddenly we saw a flash of light from up above,” he said. “It blinked off and then on again. I let go of the rope and popped up in a big air bubble … and there was Francisco Zapata. I don’t know which of us was more shocked. Zapata started to cry, saying ‘I knew you would come for me.’”
Sitting in an air-filled space less than a meter high, Zapata had carefully rationed his food, water and light, and at the end was drinking his urine and even some of the tailings water.
Divers brought Zapata food and drink, and the next day — after a crash course in cave diving — he dove the sump and ended up walking out of the mine on his own two feet. Then he was scooped up by a helicopter and taken directly to the main hospital of Mazatlán, and today he leads a normal life.
“I’ve been doing this sort of thing for 25 years,” says Saldaña, but this was the most intense experience of my life. I’ve always said I don’t believe in miracles, but in this case … I wonder.”
John Pint has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, for more than 30 years and is the author of “A Guide to West Mexico’s Guachimontones and Surrounding Area” and co-author of “Outdoors in Western Mexico.” More of his writing can be found on his website.
How far can Mexico go in the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Before dreaming of knockout stage glories, first they have to qualify from Group A. (Getty Images)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in just a few days, and the enthusiasm that normally surrounds the event already seems somewhat muted, although to a large extent, any controversy has centered on the U.S. There is the question of FIFA’s greed over ticket prices, compounded by exorbitant transportation costs in some U.S. cities. To get from the center of New York City to the MetLife Stadium and back is usually around US $13 dollars; on match days, the round-trip is going to be US $150 with no concession tickets. The anger over ticket prices has combined with a bloated-looking 48-nation tournament. How much excitement will Ghana vs. Panama, Bosnia vs. Qatar, or Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia generate with the average football fan in the U.S., or with those watching games on televisions around the world?
Then there is also a question mark over how welcoming the U.S. is going to be to arriving fans, particularly those from nations that President Donald Trump doesn’t seem to like. At the apex of this problem lies Iran, a notable soccer power in their own part of the world, who have qualified for six of the last eight tournaments. What are the chances of the team, or at least some of their support staff, being turned back at the immigration desk? Fans from European countries should face fewer problems, but they will have to follow new immigration rules that include listing all their social media accounts.
The outlook for Mexico
Playing on home soil should be a significant advantage for El Tri, but many tough challenges lie ahead. (YouTube)
Mexico will hopefully be immune from many of these problems, and with the last of the qualifying rounds finally played out, we know who the home side will be facing in a few days. Joining them in Group A are South Korea, South Africa and the Czech Republic. While none of these sides are considered likely to make an extended run in the tournament, they all have realistic hopes of reaching the knockout stages. Indeed, the four teams seem so well-matched that any small mistake could be costly. It is a group that will test a Mexican team that their own fans have concerns about.
The year started well enough for El Tri with coach Javier Aguirre guiding them to two regional trophies, the CONCACAF Nations League Finals and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. With countries wanting to familiarize themselves with the World Cup venues, September brought visits from South Korea and Japan, both games ending in respectable if unspectacular draws. However, the international weekends in October and November saw a series of poor results against South American opponents, the home crowd booing Mexico off the pitch after a dull 0-0 draw with Uruguay.
A lack of seasoned players
There is the feeling that this is not a particularly strong Mexican team, and one that lacks the core of European-based players who can add a backbone of experience to the side. There are plenty of foreign-based players, but most play in the smaller European leagues or have not secured a regular place at bigger clubs. Raúl Jiménez is an exception and is still playing well at Fulham, but he is now 34 and his influence is waning. Santiago Giménez, for all his promise, has been struggling at Milan and missed much of this season due to an ankle injury. That could go either way. He might come to the World Cup out of match practice and struggle, or might arrive fresh and motivated to prove himself.
Mexico vs. South Africa
Mexico will start against South Africa in what appears to be the easiest of their three games. They will therefore be under immense pressure to take all three points, with a draw being a disappointment, and defeat a disaster. Yet South Africa cannot be written off, for this is a soccer-mad nation of 65 million people where sport offers one of the few paths out of poverty. This South African side will be largely made up of home-based players, and that might be a problem for them. Only Mamelodi Sundowns, champions for the last eight seasons, offer their players world-class facilities and coaching. The traditional giant clubs, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, seem to be in constant turmoil, while down at the bottom half of the table, a trip to play Magesi F.C. or Marumo Gallants can feel like entering a soccer wilderness.
The South African Premiership is also noted for arguments and disputes, and this chaos has transferred to the national team. In March 2025, South Africa easily beat Lesotho in a World Cup qualifying game, only to have the three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player. Those lost points saw South Africa go into the final round of games with qualification on a knife-edge, any one of Benin, Nigeria or South Africa still able to secure a ticket to the finals. South Africa won at home against Rwanda, while Benin lost to Nigeria, a combination of results that saw South Africa finish the day at the top of the table. However, the chaos has continued with the team’s journey to Mexico being delayed due to visa issues.
South Africa’s best qualities
One factor that might play to the South Africans’ advantage is that, unusually for the volatile world of African football, the South Africans have stayed with one coach for five years. Hugo Broos is now 74 and enjoyed a long career as a player in his native Belgium, including representing his country in the 1986 World Cup here in Mexico. By the 1990s, he was the up-and-coming manager in Belgian soccer, having taken Club Brugge to two championships. The national team position at the time was securely in the hands of the legendary Paul van Himst, so Hugo took his trade overseas, spending much of the last 10 years in Africa. After he led South Africa to a third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, several African nations had their eye on him, but South Africa retained his services to see them through to this year’s World Cup.
Mexico is hoping to frustrate South Africa during their World Cup opener, but their opponents have stable coaching and some very good players. (Getty Images)
The best-known South African player is captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Hayden Williams. An international since March 2014, he has won numerous Best Goalkeeper Awards in African tournaments. The team will have several young players, such as home-based striker Relebohile Mofokeng and 22-year-old defender Samukele Kabini, who plays in Norway. Much will depend on whether the World Cup has come a little early for this next generation of stars.
Mexico vs. South Korea in Guadalajara
For their second game, Mexico will relocate to Guadalajara, where they face South Korea. In contrast to the South Africans, who have not played in the finals for 16 years, the Koreans will be competing in their 11th consecutive tournament. This gives them a World Cup culture to build upon, and the coach in Mexico will be Hong Myung-bo, a veteran of the Korean team that reached the semifinals in 2002. The Koreans looked very good in a long-drawn-out qualifying tournament, going undefeated over 16 games, scoring 40 goals while conceding just eight.
The Korean league is of a high standard, and they have a core of players who will bring experience from the world’s top competitions. Lee Kang-in, an attacking midfielder or winger, is on the books of Paris Saint-Germain, and Kim Minjae plays centerback for Bayern Munich. The key player is captain Son Heung-min. A Premier League legend after ten seasons and 127 goals with Tottenham, he now plays in the U.S. with Los Angeles FC. Son is a fit and dedicated young man, but a player who depends so much on speed might struggle at 33 years of age. We wait and see. If Son Heung-min can still produce his magic, then Korea could go a long way in this tournament.
Mexico’s third game will be on June 25 against the last of the European qualifiers, the Czech Republic. They come from a long football legacy, and as Czechoslovakia reached the World Cup final way back in 1962. The country peacefully split in 1992, leaving the Czech Republic with two-thirds of the population and most of the big Prague-based soccer clubs.
Their qualification for Mexico was hardly impressive, but it lacked nothing in excitement. The presence of Croatia in Group L was always going to be a worry, but the way the Czechs were outclassed by Croatia in a 1-5 defeat in June 2025 still came as a shock. This was followed by the ultimate embarrassment when the Czech Republic travelled to the Faroe Islands. This tiny group of windswept islands, with a population of 56,000 and only 20 football pitches, put out a team of semi-professional players who beat their visitors 2-1.
The Czech Republic’s experienced coaching stands out
All was not quite lost because the Czech Republic had taken second place and, with that, had a chance of qualifying through the second round play-offs. A new coach was brought in, and the Football Association showed a touch of genius. Instead of going for a big international name, they turned to a local man, the 74-year-old Miroslav Koubek. His long career, 10 years as a player and 40 as a manager, had been spent inclusively at home, and his forte was to bring the best out of smaller clubs. The qualities he had brought to teams such as Viktoria Plzeň or SK Kladno — simple football and a strong team spirit — were just what his band of disillusioned international players needed.
Czech Republic manager Miroslav Koubek has 40 years of coaching experience and hopes to replicate his winning formula for clubs like Viktoria Plzeň in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Vachovec1/Wikimedia Commons)
There was certainly plenty of excitement as the games against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark both went down to the drama of a penalty shoot-out. Despite that horrible night in the Faroe Islands, this is a reasonable Czech team with a good striker in German-based Patrik Schick and a noted midfield warrior in Tomáš Souček. Under Koubek, they might produce a surprise or two, but lack that one truly great player who can push all those around him to new heights.
An unpredictable outlook
Where the Czechs are to be feared is if a game goes to penalty kicks. Their victories over Ireland and Denmark were not luck, but the result of Koubek’s discipline and planning. The Czech players took nine kicks in the two shootouts and converted seven of them. In doing so, they followed one golden rule: get the ball on target. No blasting over the bar or wide of the post. Get every kick on target, and if the keeper saves one or two, then the odds are still in your favor. This discipline might well help the Czechs spring a surprise or two if they reach the knockout stages.
With the four teams so closely matched, the only thing that seems certain is that Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is going to be unpredictable!
Bob Patemanlived in Mexico for six years. He is a librarian and teacher with a Master’s Degree in History.
The e-commerce giant's latest investment announcement (a 35% increase over 2025) demonstrates its commitment to Mexico, its second-biggest Latin American market behind Brazil. (Shutterstock)
The e-commerce and financial services platform Mercado Libre announced plans on Monday to invest US $4.6 billion in Mexico this year, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to its second-biggest Latin American market.
The company’s investment will be 35% higher than in 2025, when Mercado Libre committed $3.4 billion to the Mexican market, which itself was a 38% increase over the previous year.
According to David Geisen, Mercado Libre CEO, the increased investment will “allow millions of Mexicans, entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized businesses to grow, and guarantee our users the best possible experience.” (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
The $4.6 billion for this year includes both capital investment and operating expenses.
“This historic figure reaffirms Mercado Libre’s commitment to the country’s development,” the company said in a press release. “It aims to strengthen the company’s ecosystem, both for Mercado Libre, with a particular focus on logistics, development, and technological innovation, and for Mercado Pago, for innovation and the promotion of the financial services the company offers.”
The company hopes to strengthen its brands’ positioning and create 8,500 new jobs in Mexico, primarily in logistics operations and business and corporate areas at both Mercado Libre and Mercado Pago, its online payment platform.
By the end of the year, Mercado Libre expects to have grown to over 42,000 employees in the Mexican market.
“More than a record number, this reflects our commitment to continue leading the transformation of the Mexican digital ecosystem,” Mercado Libre CEO David Geisen said.
“We are strengthening our logistics infrastructure, the innovations and financial solutions we offer that allow millions of Mexicans, entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized businesses to grow, and guarantee our users the best possible experience,” Geisen added.
Including projected 2026 spending, Mercado will have invested more than $14 billion in Mexico, its second-most-important market in Latin America (Brazil is first).
Over a million small and medium-sized businesses benefit from Mercado Libre’s various services either through Mercado Libre or Mercado Pago, according to Geisen. Mercado Libre is the primary source of income for 45% of small and medium-sized Mexican businesses operating on its marketplace, he said.
The protesters' message was that while the government is spending billions of pesos on infrastructure and security for the World Cup games, "there is no consideration for the urgent needs of Mexican society." (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Representatives of several high-profile human rights organizations gathered at Mexico City’s Estela de Luz monument on Tuesday morning to call on the government to act on human rights issues, mounting a banner that stated, “This is also in play.”
The protest on Paseo de la Reforma started around 5 a.m. when 18 activists from organizations such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International formed a human train around the monument to the Mexican Revolution, dating to 2011, a year after the 200th anniversary.
Amnesty International claimed in a press release that the action at the Estela de Luz represented “more than one hundred” civil society organizations, but the protest was peaceful and relatively low-key, though energetic, and with nowhere near that number of participants. (Greenpeace)
No road closures or traffic disruptions were reported.
Seven people from the group, equipped with helmets, harnesses, and ropes, spent two hours climbing the 104-meter Estela de Luz (Stele of Light) to hang banners at a height of around 60 meters, displaying messages on human rights, migration, environmental justice, disappearances and gun control.
The slogans read: Migration with dignity, Stop racism, Respect for autonomy, Environmental justice, Stop the weapons, Justice for the disappeared, People before commerce and The world is watching.
In a press statement, Amnesty International said those at the protest represented more than one hundred organizations.
“In a historic action, more than one hundred civil society organizations and networks from Mexico and the United States joined together to call on President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo to address the acute social and environmental problems plaguing the country, instead of focusing solely on the World Cup,” Amnesty International said in a press statement.
The protest took place two days ahead of the World Cup inauguration in Mexico City.
“While the Mexican government has announced investments of up to 2 billion pesos in mobility infrastructure… and the deployment of 100,000 public security officers… there is no consideration for the urgent needs of Mexican society,” Amnesty’s statement also said.
In a press conference at the monument, the activists stressed that with an official registry of more than 133,000 missing persons, “[the situation] is urgent.”
The group also called for an end to the “inhumane and criminal raids” by the National Migration Institute in Mexico and the Immigration Enforcement Agency (ICE) in the United States, and called for the protection and reintegration of the more than 190,000 Mexican nationals deported between 2025 and March 2026.
In addition, they emphasized that the United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA) should benefit not billionaires and corporations, but rather workers, the environment, agriculture and human rights.
“We reiterate that the world has all eyes on the World Cup host countries, not only because of the sporting event but also as watchful eyes on the lack of action regarding crucial societal issues,” Amnesty said.
The protest organizers are expected to continue speaking out about these issues throughout the World Cup.
Tuesday’s protest marks the third time that members of civil society organizations have climbed the Estela de Luz to denounce human rights violations.
Trump says he’s ‘not looking to renew’ the USMCA, but the talks continue
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is not seeking to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the free trade pact that superseded NAFTA in 2020 and is subject to a review process this year. However, he subsequently softened his language, saying that he didn’t know whether he would renew the trilateral trade pact during the formal review talks.
In the Oval Office, a reporter asked Trump how confident he was about being able to renew the USMCA, which governs around US $2 trillion in annual trade between the United States, Mexico and Canada.
(Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro.com)
“Well, I’m not looking to renew it,” the U.S. president said.
“… I mean I made the deal, and the primary reason I made the deal is that NAFTA was the worst trade deal I’ve ever seen,” Trump said.
“…USMCA did one thing that I loved. After six years it comes up for renewal. I don’t know that I’m going to renew it because to be honest with you, the United States … doesn’t need anything that Canada has, we don’t need anything that Mexico has, but they need everything that we have,” he said.
“And they have to treat us better. You know, with Mexico and Canada we have trade deficits. We should have surpluses with them. We don’t need their cars, we don’t need their lumber, we don’t need their energy, we don’t need anything that they have,” Trump said.
He subsequently said that the USMCA — which underpins deep economic integration in North America — was “sort of a good deal” but a “great deal for one reason: it gave the right to terminate.”
Any country can withdraw from the USMCA by giving the other two parties six months’ notice. Even if the United States refuses to renew the deal in 2026, the earliest the trade pact itself could lapse — assuming no one uses that exit clause — is 2036
Trump’s remarks on Wednesday were similar to comments he made about the USMCA and North American trade in January.
“I want to see Mexico and Canada do well, but the problem is we don’t need their product,” he said at the time.
Trump also said in January that the USMCA provides “no real advantage” to the United States and is “irrelevant” to him.
His remarks on Wednesday came after Mexican and U.S officials held bilateral USMCA talks in late May. Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard subsequently notified U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc that Mexico wishes to extend the USMCA for an additional 16 years to 2042. Canada also wants to extend the trilateral pact.
Trump’s Oval Office remarks cast doubt on the likelihood that the three countries will reach an agreement to renew the USMCA. However, they don’t necessarily mean that the United States will oppose the renewal of the pact or withdraw from it. It would appear more likely that the Trump administration will seek to make changes to the agreement so that it is more favorable to U.S. interests. The threat to withdraw from, or “terminate,” the USMCA could help it to achieve that.
A second round of Mexico-U.S. trade talks is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., next week.
Ebrard: Mexico is ‘prepared’ for the USMCA review
On Wednesday morning, just a few hours before Trump offered his views on North American trade, Economy Minister Ebrard spoke at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s press conference about the upcoming talks with the United States.
“We have the next round of conversations with the United States next week,” he said, noting that Mexico’s delegation would be in Washington until at least Thursday June 18.
“We’re going to be there the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th. On the 18th I have a long meeting with the person responsible for the [USMCA] review negotiations for the United States,” Ebrard said, referring to Ambassador Greer.
“We’re going to be focused [on trade talks] the whole week. … If it’s necessary we’ll stay until Friday,” he said.
Ebrard said that Mexico is “prepared” for the review talks and has its “arguments” ready. In addition to seeking agreement on an extension of the USMCA, Mexico is looking for tariff relief from the United States, which last year imposed duties on Mexican vehicles, steel and aluminum.
On Wednesday morning, Ebrard framed the very act of holding talks with the United States as a win for Mexico.
“It wasn’t known if we were going to have these formal talks or not. … They are underway and we’ll be there next week,” he said.
Later in the press conference, Ebrard highlighted that — despite the United States’ imposition of tariffs on various Mexican exports — Mexico is in a better position than other countries around the world vis-à-vis trade with the U.S. Indeed, the vast majority of the trade of goods between Mexico and the United States — worth US $872.8 billion in 2025 — occurs tariff-free thanks to the USMCA.
For Mexico, Ebrard said, trade with the U.S. is “cheaper” than it is for “many competitors.”
“For example, it’s more expensive for Vietnam, for the European Union, for many countries of South America as well,” he said.
“So we have a favorable position thanks to the calls the presidenta has made to President Trump and the things we have worked on [with the United States],” Ebrard said.
“The goal is to maintain that position during this process of review of the agreement,” he said.
Ebrard said that the review of the USMCA doesn’t have to be concluded on July 1, but rather the formal review — with representation from the United States, Mexico and Canada — commences on that date.
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