At her Monday press conference, Sheinbaum discussed government initiatives to prevent violence against women and the symbolism of having a female president. (Presidencia)
On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted that her government is implementing a range of “actions” and making various law changes in favor of gender equality and the protection and strengthening of women’s rights.
Speaking at her Monday morning press conference, Sheinbaum also said that her administration is committed to “eradicating” violence against women.
The two main tenets of the government’s strategy are “prevention” of violence against women and “zero impunity” for crimes committed, she said.
“In the face of any femicide: zero impunity. In the face of sexual violence against women: zero impunity,” Sheinbaum said.
Women’s rights pamphlets will be ready soon
Sheinbaum told her morning presser that the government’s women’s rights pamphlet is currently being drawn up and will be unveiled soon.
“The pamphlet has to do with the rights enshrined in the constitution, in laws,” she said, adding that it will explain “what equality means” and expose societal prejudices that have an adverse impact on equality.
As mayor of Mexico City, Sheinbaum led a similar educational campaign to inform Mexico City residents about the rights women are entitled to, how to recognize various types of violence and the public services available to women. (Gobierno CDMX)
Sheinbaum spoke about some prejudices that remain prevalent in Mexico, such as that women and girls should clear the table at meal times and do the dishes.
“Contributing to household chores is a task for everyone,” she said.
Sheinbaum also said there is no reason why girls can’t play with cars and marbles and boys can’t play with dolls.
“Something as simple” as telling a girl she can’t play with cars can have an impact on her future life, the president said.
“Saying ‘you can’t play with this’ or ‘you can’t play with marbles’ … limits the dreams a girl can have,” she said.
Sheinbaum said last month that the government’s women’s rights pamphlet should be distributed to men as well as women because everyone needs to know about women’s rights.
Having a presidenta for the first time has triggered a ‘cultural transformation’ in Mexico
One reporter asked Sheinbaum about the impact her ascension to Mexico’s top political position has had on the country. At the conclusion of her question, the journalist noted that a young girl in Chiapas impersonated Mexico’s first female president, or presidenta, at a Revolution Day parade last week. (A video of the girl’s performance went viral on social media.)
“Las niñas incorporan a su discurso la nueva visión de la importancia de las mujeres en la vida pública”, resaltó la presidenta @Claudiashein sobre video grabado durante un desfile de la Revolución mexicana en Chiapas. pic.twitter.com/eVe1FMxzyO
A female president “is a symbol that transforms mindsets,” Sheinbaum said.
“It’s not enough [just] with the symbol, we have to develop policy, change the constitution, change legislation and develop actions for the protection and promotion of women’s rights,” she said.
“But … [a female president] is a symbol, when a girl sees a presidenta obviously she can imagine that she too can be a presidenta,” Sheinbaum said.
“… And that represents a change in mindset, and not just in girls, in boys as well, in men as well, it’s a cultural transformation,” she said.
Incoming Veracruz governor is ‘a woman of character with many convictions’
Sheinbaum noted that she will attend Rocío Nahle’s inauguration as governor of Veracruz this Sunday.
Nahle, federal energy minister during most of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year term, is “a woman of character with many convictions, who loves Veracruz, who loves its people,” the president said.
“And I know that she will do a great job. And we’ll be there supporting her with everything she needs,” Sheinbaum said.
Mexico City enlisted the help of 400 workers to plant 147,000 nochebuenas across town. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro) (Ismael Rocha/X)
As part of an annual tradition, 39 kilometers of poinsettias were planted across Mexico City on Nov. 22, marking the start of the festive season.
Mexico City’s Public Works and Services Ministry enlisted the help of 400 workers to plant 147,000 nochebuenas — the common name for the flower in Mexico — along 12 primary roads throughout the capital, covering a total of 38.66 km.
— Secretaría de Obras y Servicios CDMX (@SOBSECDMX) November 23, 2024
Around the globe, poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) have become synonymous with the Christmas season. The bright red flowering plant is native to Mexico and 30 varieties are grown in six states, including Morelos, Michoacán, Mexico City and Puebla.
Before the arrival of the Spanish in 1519, the ornamental plant was grown in the gardens of the Mexica royalty, such as Moctezuma II and Nezahualcóyotl.
Then came Robert Poinsett, the plants’ English-language namesake.
When Poinsett, the first U.S. minister to Mexico, visited during Christmas in 1825, he sent some samples to the Bartram Botanical Garden in Philadelphia. The poinsettias were exhibited there in 1829 to great success, before being introduced to Europe.
Poinsettias mainly come in red, white and pink and can be bought from 40 to 300 pesos (US $2- $15) (Parker Sturdivant/Unsplash)
Where to find poinsettias in Mexico City
You can see the striking red plants along the following streets:
Paseo de la Reforma: from Periférico to Eje 2 Norte
Canal de Miramontes: from Calz. del Hueso to Canal Nacional
Viaducto Río Becerra: from Puente La Morena to Viaducto Miguel Alemán
Renato Leduc: from Calz. Tlalpan to Calle Coapa
Periférico Sur: from Camino a Santa Teresa to Calle Forestales
Eje 6 Sur: from Avenida Javier Rojo Gómez to Gabriela Mistral
Avenida Chapultepec: from Circuito Interior to Avenida Niños Héroes
Avenida 8: from Circuito Interior to Viaducto Río de la Piedad
Eje 3 Oriente: from Calle 310 to Calle 306
Ejército Nacional: from Bahía de la Concepción to Calle Kepler
Calzada de la Viga: from Calle Campesinos to Avenida Recreo
Calzada México-Tenochtitlán: from Calle Valerio Trujano to Calle Héroes
As part of the annual Festival de Nochebuena, poinsettia growers offer flowers for sale in public plazas across the capital. They mainly come in red, white and pink and can be bought for 40 to 300 pesos (US $2- $15), depending on the size of the plant.
They will be available for purchase in the following places:
The main squares of the Coyoacán, Gustavo A. Madero, Iztapalapa, Tláhuac, Iztacalco and Milpa Alta neighborhoods, from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1
Chapultepec Park (at the Puerta de los Leones entrance), from Nov. 19 to Dec. 1
República de Guatemala, from Nov. 19 to Dec. 1
Tourism Ministry, from Nov. 19 to Dec. 19
Francisco I. Madero Avenue, from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1
Pabellón Cuemanco, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1
Mexico City Zócalo, from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1
Paseo de la Reforma, from Dec. 2 to 15
You can find all of the festival’s points of sale on this map.
The flower farmers of Xochimilco have produced roughly 1.8 million poinsettias for sale in Mexico City this year. If sales go well, they could generate 70 million pesos for over 5,000 families, including families of growers and day laborers hired for cultivation and marketing, according to the Mexico City government.
Students hold a demonstration in support of judicial reform at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in September. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro.com)
More than 18,000 people expressed interest in standing as candidates in Mexico’s first ever judicial elections in 2025, the federal government announced Monday.
Arturo Zaldívar, coordinator of policy and government in the administration led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, thanked 18,447 people for registering their interest in participating in the judicial elections scheduled to be held on June 1, 2025.
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Arturo Zaldívar, coordinator of policy and government in President Claudia Sheinbaum’s cabinet, thanked the many judicial hopefuls for their applications. (Claudia Sheinbaum/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s Congress and the judiciary also accepted registrations, as they — in addition to an “executive power” committee headed up by Zaldívar — will select candidates to contest the judicial elections. The Congress received more than 11,900 registrations while the judiciary received over 3,800.
Some would-be judges likely submitted registrations to the federal executive, the Congress and the judiciary.
Sheinbaum called the candidate registration drive “a complete success.” (Presidencia)
Sheinbaum said that the registration process for judicial aspirants — which began on Nov. 5 and concluded at midnight Monday — was “a complete success.”
“[It was] something unprecedented, historic,” she said.
A second round of judicial elections is scheduled to be held in 2027.
Critics of the judicial reform argue that the direct election of judges will politicize the judiciary, but Sheinabum and other government officials reject claims that Mexico’s courts will lose their independence. The president asserts that a judicial overhaul via the election of judges is necessary to eliminate corruption and other ills from Mexico’s justice system.
Almost 500 people interested in becoming a Supreme Court justice
Zaldívar said that 10,862 men, 6,101 women and 106 people who identify as nonbinary successfully registered their interest in contesting next year’s judicial elections.
An additional 1,378 people made errors when submitting their registrations and will therefore not be considered by the executive’s candidate evaluation committee.
Zaldivar said that 480 people “aspire” to become Supreme Court (SCJN) justices. But just 27 will ultimately be selected to contest the election to win one of nine positions on the bench of Mexico’s highest court.
At least eight of Mexico’s 11 Supreme Court justices will not participate in the judicial election process, having already announced that they will resign next year. (SCJN)
More than 10,000 people registered their interest in contesting federal district judge elections, while over 5,000 want to stand as candidates in circuit court elections.
The remainder of those who registered on the federal government website want to become electoral judges or magistrates with the Judicial Discipline Tribunal.
Minerva Martínez Garza, an academic and former president of the Nuevo León Human Rights Commission, is among those hoping to win a position on the SCJN.
She told the Associated Press that the election of judges will help Mexico’s justice system overcome “the legitimacy crisis” it suffers.
“We need a justice system that provides results,” Martínez said, adding that the recently-enacted judicial reform will help to eradicate corruption in the judiciary and favor a more rapid delivery of justice.
“This change is profound,” she said.
The Morena party’s passage of reforms to Mexico’s judicial system elicited protests across the country, often led by judicial branch employees. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Sergio Méndez Silva, a legal official with the Fundación para la Justicia (Foundation for Justice), a Mexico City-based non-governmental organization, has a different view about the direct election of judges.
“One doesn’t choose a doctor for an operation based on popularity,” he said, explaining that a surgeon is chosen because of his or her “technical knowledge, expertise and skill.”
“… The same thing [should] apply for a judge,” Méndez said.
He expressed concern about the makeup of the executive, congressional and judicial committees that will assess the qualifications and experience of those vying to become judges, asserting that people aligned with the ruling Morena party are among their members.
Over the next three weeks, the federal executive’s candidate evaluation committee will look at the qualifications and experience of those who expressed interest in becoming judges to determine whether they comply with the “formal requirements,” Zaldívar said.
Presentation of five letters of recommendation from neighbors and colleagues.
Lawmakers had proposed setting a minimum age of 35 for judges but ultimately decided against that requirement.
Zaldívar said the top judicial candidates will be selected by Dec. 14. A lottery system will then determine which of those candidates will be on next year’s ballot. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)
Zaldívar said that the executive’s evaluation committee will be looking for people who are “honest, qualified” and “committed” to delivering “the justice we all expect” as well as “building a better justice system.”
“It’s clear that the one we have now doesn’t satisfy the yearnings and legitimate demands of the people of Mexico,” he said.
Zaldívar said that the “most suitable” candidates will be selected by Dec. 14. Those “finalists” will participate in a public interview process after which some of them will be selected as candidates via sortition, or selection by lottery.
The official said that the response from Mexico’s lawyers to the call to register as judicial election candidates was “amazing.”
“The results are spectacular, they exceeded all expectations, which demonstrates the interest of the people of Mexico in this process,” he said.
“… It’s a historic event because for the first time we’re going to elect judges in Mexico, it’s an event that will completely transform our democratic, social and political life,” Zaldívar said.
The festival expects roughly 800,000 attendees at the festival this year. (FIL/Rafael del Río)
The 38th Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), the largest literary event in the Spanish-speaking world, is once again expecting an attendance around 800,000 during its run from Saturday, Nov. 30, through Sunday, Dec. 8.
Held at the sprawling Expo Guadalajara convention center, the fair will feature nine days of literature, art and cultural exchange, featuring 850 writers from 43 countries speaking 19 languages. Two of the writers scheduled to appear are Nobel Prize winners and one is a Pulitzer Prize winner.
This year’s prestigious Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize will go to Argentine novelist Gabriela Cabezón Cámara for her novel “Las niñas del naranjel” (“The Girls from the Orange Grove”). (FIL Guadalajara)
This year’s theme, “Camino de ida y vuelta” (“Round trip”), will include welcoming Spain as the guest of honor for the first time in 24 years. Spain’s presence will include its largest-ever delegation, comprising 229 writers, artists and professionals. Last year’s guest was the European Union.
Notable Spanish figures set to attend include Irene Vallejo, Fernando Aramburu, María Dueñas and Rosa Montero — all of them award-winning writers.
Aramburu and Montero will have the honor of kicking off the talks and panels at the Carlos Fuentes Literary Hall, a prestigious FIL space dedicated to celebrating literary excellence and fostering discussions with renowned writers. It is named after iconic Mexican novelist and essayist Carlos Fuentes.
Other highlights will include appearances by Tanzanian-born British Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah, who will deliver a keynote address and present his novel “The Deserter,” and Nobel Prize-winning chemist Morten Peter Meldal of Denmark, who will discuss “From the Molecule to Medicine.”
British Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah will deliver a keynote address and present his novel “The Deserter.” (Ediciones Salamandra via Guadalajara FIL)
Mia Couto, recipient of this year’s FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages, will also give a talk during the opening ceremony. Born in Mozambican, Couto is considered one of the most important figures in Portuguese literature.
Mexican author Cristina Rivera Garza is also scheduled to appear. She won a 2024 Pulitzer Prize for her “Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister’s Search for Justice,” a nonfiction, genre-bending account of her sister’s 1990 murder at the hands of an abusive ex-boyfriend.
FIL’s programming features over 3,000 activities, including exhibitions, workshops and live performances.
Events like the Festival of European Letters, Latinoamérica Viva, and the International Caricature and Comics Meeting will explore diverse literary and artistic voices. Panels will cover a range of topics, from LGBTQ+ literature to artificial intelligence in science.
Awards are also a substantial part of FIL’s identity. Eight FIL awards and four awards in collaboration with other literary entities will be presented.
Already announced in October, the festival’s most prestigious award, the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize, will go to Argentine novelist Gabriela Cabezón Cámara for her 2023 novel “Las niñas del naranjel” (“The Girls from the Orange Grove”). Not yet available in an English translation, the historical and adventurous bildungsroman explores themes of colonialism, identity and the blending of cultures.
Spain’s pavilion will showcase sustainability and diversity, with 15,000 books and cultural exhibits.
Beyond literature, the FIL Forum will present flamenco and electronic music performances, exhibitions such as “Foodscapes” and a film series that includes big-screen adaptations of iconic works.
Residual polar air and two new cold fronts are expected to overlap in the following days, keeping temperatures chilly throughout the week. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
This week’s weather forecast predicts frost and colder-than-usual temperatures in many parts of Mexico.
These freezing weather conditions are the result of residual polar air and two new cold fronts that are expected to overlap in the following days. These three weather systems could also lead to rainfall and strong winds in coastal areas of Mexico.
The National Meteorological System (SMN) said freezing temperatures are particularly expected in the early hours of the morning and at night in the following states:
Minimum temperatures of -15 to -10 degrees Celsius, with frost: Chihuahua and Durango.
Minimum temperatures of -5 to 0 degrees Celsius, with frost: Baja California, Sonora, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Puebla, Tlaxcala, México state, Veracruz and Oaxaca.
Minimum temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees Celsius, with frost possible: Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Mexico City, Morelos and Chiapas.
Due to the cold temperatures, Mexico City activated a yellow alert on Monday morning for 11 city boroughs, while a red alert was activated for five, as temperatures dropped to -2 degrees Celsius in some areas.
The National Water Commission (Conagua) advised residents to stay informed about weather conditions in their areas and take the necessary measures to ensure their safety.
Mexico City activated a red alert in five city boroughs on Monday as temperatures dropped to -2 degrees Celsius in some areas. (Cuartoscuro)
Meanwhile, an inflow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will bring rainfall to the following states this week:
Showers (5 a 25 millimeters): Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Quintana Roo.
Isolated rainfall (0.1 a 5 millimeters): Jalisco, Colima, Campeche and Yucatán.
States in Mexico’s Pacific are forecast to see warm to hot weather conditions this week.
These include southern Sonora and parts of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Baja California Sur.
How many cold fronts are expected this winter in Mexico?
Alejandra Margarita Méndez Girón, the general coordinator of the SMN, said the country will see 48 cold fronts and seven winter storms during the 2024-2025 winter season.
Méndez said that one storm is expected in November, another in December, two in January and three in February. She noted that the states that could see the greatest drops in temperature this winter are Chihuahua, Durango, Tlaxcala, Zacatecas, México state, Aguascalientes, Coahuila and Hidalgo.
The amount of cocaine retrieved by the navy had an estimated value of 850 million pesos (US $41.9 million). (@lopezdoriga/X)
The Mexican navy (Semar) announced on Sunday that it had confiscated a total of 3.3 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated 850 million pesos (US $41.9 million), in two separate operations off the coast of the southwestern state of Guerrero last week.
Also on Sunday, Semar reported it had seized 141 kilos of methamphetamine from a ship that was preparing to depart from the port of Veracruz on the Gulf Coast. According to the news outlet Infobae, the authorities found more than 3 million doses of meth valued at approximately 41.8 million pesos (US $2 million).
Marina asegura alrededor de 3 mil 340 kilogramos de presunta cocaína con valor de 851 mdp en Guerrerohttps://t.co/5tVBJHcvBm
Regarding the cocaine seizures, the online news site López-Dóriga Digital reported that Semar personnel were conducting a routine patrol in the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 20, when they spotted objects floating in the water about 180 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Guerrero. Upon closer inspection, the agents located 30 marked tubs.
The crew hauled the tubs onto their vessel and found about 1,554 kilograms of a white powdered substance similar to cocaine. Semar authorities notified the state and federal attorneys general before handing over the material to prosecutors.
The following day, another navy patrol boat found 45 additional marked packets floating in the ocean about 170 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco. These tubs yielded 1,786 kilograms of cocaine-like white powder, and they were turned over to the authorities assigned to the case, according to the newspaper El Imparcial.
“These actions are just a routine part of the sea, air and land surveillance that the navy carries out to suppress criminal activity and to provide security while upholding the rule of law within Mexico’s maritime zones,” the Semar said in a statement.
The events occurred in roughly the same area where the navy stopped a boat, confiscated 3.6 tonnes of drugs and arrested nine suspects three weeks ago. (Especial)
Welcome in the Christmas spirit (literally) with these delicious Mexican holiday drinks. (Canva)
Holidays are fun times, loaded with memories of Christmases past, and filled with hopes of Christmas now and of the future, and of families and friends. What a wonderful time of year! In Mexico, this means it’s time for hot drinks and refreshing Christmas cocktails too.
Holidays are also party times, when we get together with family, friends, colleagues, and even acquaintances to celebrate the joys of the season with good food and good drink. And that’s what I’m going to focus on, to give you some fun Mexican ideas for Holiday Cheer!
What better way to celebrate Christmas in Mexico than with some traditional drinks (alcohol optional, but recommended)? (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
The Spaniards introduced Christianity to Mexico along with ponche, a drink they associated with their religion, and particularly Christmas, becoming a staple during “posadas,” the nine-day festivities leading to Christmas Eve, symbolizing Mary’s and Joseph’s search for shelter for the birth of their child.
The Mexican version of the drink has evolved significantly in the years since the Spanish occupation and incorporates seasonal fruits like tejocotes; guaves; tamarind; apples; and hibiscus flowers that give it that wonderful, rich red color. Piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar) sweetens the beverage and if it contains alcohol, it’s known as “ponche con piquete.”
In Mexico, the drink symbolizes community, a blending of cultures, and the celebration of Christmas and is served hot in clay mugs — and I hope you make it this ponche a family favorite of your Holiday season also!
Ponche Navideño:
Recipe adapted from muydelish.com. (ProtoplasmaKid/Wikimedia Commons)
Ingredients:
1 gallon (16 cups/4 liters) water (agua)
1 Cup (40 g) dried hibiscus flowers (flores de hibisco)
3 tamarind pods peeled (vainas de tamarindo)
1 large cinnamon stick or 3 small (canela en rama)
8 oz. piloncillo (azúcar piloncillo) or 1 Cup (200 g) sugar (azúcar estándar) (or more according to taste)
4 cloves (dientes)
1 oz. (30 ml) brandy, rum, or tequila per cup, optional (brandy, ron, tequila)
The fruits:
10 tejocotes, or 2 apples cut in halves (manzanas)
2 pears chopped (peras)
1 to 2 apples chopped (manzanas)
4 to 5 guavas cut into 8 pieces (guayabas)
3 to 4 (about 5 inches long) sugarcane, peeled and sliced into sticks (caña de azúcar)
5 mandarins (mandarinas) or (2 oranges [naranjas] cut into slices), peeled
7 oz. prunes (ciruelas), dried cranberries (arándanos secos), or raisins (pasas)
Instructions:
Add water to a large stockpot and set to high heat.
Add the hibiscus flowers; tamarind pods; cinnamon sticks; cloves and piloncillo/sugar.
Cover and boil for about 15 minutes.
Remove the hibiscus, tamarind pods and cloves before adding fruit. Discard.
Add the fruit, cover and bring to a simmer.
If you add guavas and they’re soft, you can place them in the pot whole or cut in halves. If firm, cut into 8 pieces. If using canned/jarred guavas, add in the last 5 minutes since they’re already cooked.
Once it starts to boil uncover and cook for 15 minutes, leaving fruit al dente. If you like softer fruit, cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Taste for sweetness and add more sugar, according to your taste.
Remove from heat and cover pot. Let it steep for another 15 minutes.
Serve warm.
Paloma
The blessed union of grapefruit soda and tequila, the paloma is a Mexican classic. (Canva)
Paloma is one of Mexico’s most beloved cocktails, especially at festive times like Christmas. It is made with tequila and grapefruit soda or juice, and is sometimes garnished with lime, but its origins are unusual to say the least.
Today, the Paloma has evolved with variations that include grapefruit juice and agave syrup, and because it’s so easy to make, it’s sometimes referred to as the “lazy man’s margarita.” So, enjoy!
Ingredients:
2 fl. oz. (60 ml) pink grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed (jugo de pomelo rosado)
2 fl. oz. (60 ml) sparkling water (or club soda) (agua con gas o agua mineral con gas)
3 fl. oz. (80 ml) tequila
A drizzle of lime juice, freshly squeezed (jugo de lima)
2 slices lime (lima)
2 pinches salt (sal)
Crushed ice
Instructions:
Into two cocktail glasses, add some crushed ice.
Mix with a small cocktail stirrer or a spoon to cool the glasses.
Add a pinch of salt to each glass.
Divide grapefruit juice between the two glasses and pour into each glass, then add the sparkling water to each glass.
Divide the tequila between the two glasses and add a drizzle of lime juice to each glass.
Mix.
Decorate with slices of lime.
The Margarita
This is the quintessential Mexican cocktail, a symbol of Mexican culture and a drink loved world over, usually made with tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur.
The margarita originated from the “daisies” made popular in the early 20th century, cocktails that combined spirits with citrus juice and sweet liqueur, like orange curacao. The Spanish word for daisy is “margarita” which is the link that connects it to the daisy drinks of old that evolved into today’s fashionable cocktail.
So how do we make the classic margarita extra-holiday festive? Think cranberries!
Cranberry Margarita
Recipe from: cakenknife.com. (Canva)
Equipment:
jigger
cocktail shaker
salt for rim of glasses
Margarita:
2 Tbs. (20 g) kosher salt (sal kosher)
2 lime wedges (lima)
6 oz. (177 ml) 100% cranberry juice (jugo de arándano)
3 oz. (89 ml) tequila blanca
1 oz. (30 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice from 1 medium lime
1.5 oz. (40 ml) orange liqueur such as Cointreau (licor de Naranja)
Rub the wedge of lime around the rim of the two cocktail glasses.
Pour salt into a small dish. Run the rims through the salt to coat. Fill glasses with ice. Set aside.
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
Add cranberry juice, tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur.
Seal the shaker and shake well until well-chilled, about 20 seconds.
Strain into the rimmed cocktail glasses.
Garnish with lime wheels and fresh cranberries.
Disfruta!
Deborah McCoy is the one-time author of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attention to food, particularly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the founder of CakeChatter™ on FaceBook and X (Twitter), and the author of four baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is also the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™ (aa-wp.com).
Ebrard's indication that Mexico is willing to work with the United States and Canada on a common plan to reduce reliance on Asian imports appears to show that the Mexican government is determined to avoid or at least minimize China-related problems during the USMCA review process in 2026. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)
Do Mexico, the United States and Canada need a common plan to increase manufacturing capacity in North America and reduce reliance on Chinese imports?
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard appears to believe they do, and floated the idea that Mexico should take the initiative and propose one to its northern neighbors and USMCA trade partners.
Tariffs on Chinese imports, particularly auto parts and vehicles, differ in the three North American countries, creating a situation where “each country does what it thinks it should do,” Ebrard said. (Shutterstock)
Speaking at a BBVA bank meeting in Cancún on Friday, Ebrard noted there is concern that North America is “losing competitiveness” relative to China.
Instead of responding to the situation as a North American bloc, “each country does what it thinks it should do,” the minister said.
In the U.S., for example, the Inflation Reduction Act was implemented to provide “huge incentives” to attract investment in the electric vehicle sector, Ebrard said, adding that China has an “advantage” over North America in that area.
He said that Mexico, the United States and Canada have had “certain common visions or at least certain common appreciations” about what needs to be done to increase North American production and reduce reliance on imports from China and some other Asian countries, “but we haven’t had a plan B” — i.e. a common backup plan that could support the initiatives of individual countries.
“Maybe Mexico can put that on the table — not be on the defensive but propose it,” Ebrard said.
What might a common plan entail?
Uniform tariffs?
While Ebrard didn’t go into details about what a common North American plan to increase production and reduce reliance on Chinese imports would look like, a likely starting point would be for Mexico, the United States and Canada to have uniform tariffs on Chinese imports.
The U.S. and Canada, for example, both impose 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, whereas Mexico’s tariffs on those vehicles are just 20%. Tariffs on various other Chinese products differ in the three North American countries.
In an interview with Mexico News Daily in June, former Mexican ambassador to China Jorge Guajardo said that imposing higher tariffs on Chinese imports to protect Mexican industry was a pressing and important task for the Sheinbaum administration.
While Mexico, the U.S. and Canada already have integrated supply chains in various sectors, additional partnerships aimed at increasing manufacturing capacity in North America could also be part of a common plan, as proposed by Ebrard.
Mexico’s Deputy Economy Minister for Foreign Trade Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez Romano told The Wall Street Journal last month that the federal government wants U.S. manufacturers to substitute some goods and components made in China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan with products made in Mexico. (@LuisRosendo_/X)
What is Mexico doing to increase local production and reduce its reliance on China?
Mexico’s Deputy Economy Minister for Foreign Trade Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez Romano told The Wall Street Journal last month that the federal government wants U.S. automakers and semiconductor manufacturers, as well as large aerospace and electronics companies, to substitute some goods and components made in China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
“We want to focus on supporting our domestic supply chains,” he said.
Ebrard said in October that the government was looking at “how we can reduce all the imports we have — that is, to increase domestic content in any way we can.”
In Cancún on Friday, the economy minister said that the government is working with “a lot of companies … to reduce the volumes of our imports from Asia, not just from China.”
“We have to increase our national content, but we have to work with the companies [in Mexico] that export,” said Ebrard, who pointed out last month that Mexican content in the country’s manufacturing exports is currently less than 20%.
Among the companies the government is working with to identify which Asian imports can be replaced with Mexican-made components are Foxconn, Intel, General Motors, DHL and Stellantis.
But President Sheinbaum said Friday that the objective throughout her six-year term is to continually reduce reliance on Chinese exports.
“We have a plan that the Finance Ministry is developing with the Economy Ministry,” Sheinbaum said.
“[In 2018] President #Trump signed into law a round of tariffs on many Chinese imports… Tariffs haven’t slowed America’s demand for foreign goods. Many items are just finding new ways into the U.S.” – looks like trade diversion from China involves both Mexico & Canada.🤷🏽♂️ #USMCAhttps://t.co/CJyvKURXILpic.twitter.com/BotfqgPmzf
The objective of the plan, she said, is to “substitute imports that come from China” with goods made in Mexico either by Mexican companies or “companies mainly from North America.”
Finance Minister Rogelio Ramírez de la O has repeatedly highlighted that Mexico has a large and growing trade deficit with China.
However, he has also pointed out — and Sheinbaum emphasized this on Friday — that Mexico is not the only North American country that relies heavily on Chinese imports.
“The United States depends on China for 16.5% of its total imports, Canada depends [on China] for 13.5% and Mexico depends on China for 19.6% of its total imports,” Ramírez said in July.
The future of the USMCA
Mexico’s trade relationship with China, and Chinese investment in Mexico, are currently hot topics ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. president in January and the scheduled review of the USMCA in 2026.
Ebrard’s indication that Mexico is willing to work with the United States and Canada on a common plan to increase North America’s manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on Asian imports appears to show that the Mexican government is determined to avoid or at least minimize China-related problems during the USMCA review process.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that “pending decisions and choices that Mexico has made” Canada “may have to look at other options” vis-à-vis its trade relationships in North America. (@JustinTrudeau/X)
The economy minister previously said that Mexico — the world’s largest exporter to the United States — would “mobilize all legitimate interests in favor of North America” amid the ongoing China-U.S. trade war that could intensify after Trump takes office on January 20. For its part, the lower house of Mexico’s Congress modified a constitutional bill last week in an effort to ensure that a proposal that seeks to eliminate seven autonomous government agencies doesn’t violate the USMCA.
Trump said last month that he would “have a lot of fun” renegotiating the USMCA, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that “pending decisions and choices that Mexico has made” Canada “may have to look at other options” vis-à-vis its trade relationships in North America.
Sheinbaum has repeatedly stressed that the free trade agreement benefits Mexico, the United States and Canada, and asserts that the three countries “complement” each other rather than “compete” with each other. More than 80% of Mexico’s total export revenue comes from products shipped to its immediate northern neighbor.
At this stage, it appears that Mexico’s trade and investment relationship with China will indeed be an issue at the 2026 review of the USMCA. However, it appears unlikely that it will prove to be a sticking point in negotiations aimed at extending the free trade pact, especially considering Mexico’s willingness — and efforts — to make modifications to its trade relationship with China.
Trudeau, who may not even be prime minister in 2026 given that Canada will hold a federal election in 2025, said last Thursday that Canada, Mexico and the United States would have to “lean in and work on” concerns related to Chinese investment in Mexico, but he stressed that his “first choice” was for the USMCA to continue.
Even if Canada, or the U.S., said in 2026 that they didn’t want to extend the USMCA, the three-way pact, under its terms, could not be terminated until 2036, and only after the three countries had met annually during an entire decade to try to find a solution to their differences.
On Friday, Ebrard expressed confidence that the USMCA review process will be successful, albeit “not easy.”
“… Don’t worry so much. … All we have to do is present sensible, convincing and personal arguments,” he said.
Veracruz is a center for new Mexican design, with impressive and groundbreaking new developments popping up all over the region. (Naser Nader Ibrahim/ Archdaily.mx)
When it comes to cultural wealth, Veracruz is one of the richest states in Mexico. The Olmec civilization — often referred to as the mother culture of Mesoamerica — flourished in this region, as did the Totonac and Huastec peoples. Shortly after the Spanish expedition led by Hernán Cortés made landfall in 1519, they founded Villa Rica de la Veracruz, the town that eventually became the modern city of Veracruz, the state’s largest. The state of Veracruz is home to 35 sites designated as World Heritage Sites in Mexico, including the pre-Columbian city of El Tajín and the Historic Monuments Zone of Tlacotalpan.
Among its cultural wealth, the state’s architecture is a standout. Cities like Veracruz, Tlacotalpan, Xalapa, Coatzacoalcos and Córdoba are architectural treasure troves. Between the 16th century and 1925, architecture in Veracruz was influenced by the Spanish colonial style, with Baroque and Neoclassicism being the most prominent architectural movements of the colonial period. Following the Mexican Revolution, 20th-century architects incorporated influences from styles such as Art Deco, Brutalism, Organicism, and Functionalism.
The 21st century is ushering in a fresh wave of architectural approaches in Veracruz too. Since the turn of the millennium, the state has been home to iconic architects like Enrique Murillo and Danilo Veras Godoy. Firms including Rafael Pardo Ramos, RP Architects, Open Arquitectura, Taller DIEZ 05, Taller ADC and Taller Multidisciplinar contribute to a new architectural identity in Veracruz.
Foro Boca
Designed by Rojkind Arquitectos, Foro Boca is dedicated to music and the arts, with a concert hall with a capacity for 966 spectators. (Jaime Navarro/ Archdaily.mx)
One of the most remarkable public buildings in Mexico in recent decades is Foro Boca, designed by Rojkind Arquitectos. This venue, dedicated to music and the arts, features large volumes of concrete arranged dynamically. It houses a concert hall with a capacity for 966 spectators, accommodating classical, traditional and popular music performances, as well as theater, dance and film presentations. Located in Boca del Río, one of its primary objectives is to revitalize the city and create a place for encounter and creativity.
Toks restaurant
Formerly a 17th-century convent, dedicated to Santo Domingo, this venue was transformed into a charming Toks restaurant. (Lucía Cervantes/ Archdaily.mx)
The Legorreta firm, continuing the legacy of the renowned architect Ricardo Legorreta, has transformed the 17th-century ex-convent of Santo Domingo into a charming restaurant.
Located in the historic center of Veracruz, this building is one of the oldest in the city, founded by the Dominicans in 1651. Over the years, it has served various purposes and the recent restoration aimed to keep its structural essence while introducing a refreshing touch of modernity.
Situated in the port of Veracruz, the Veracruz Business Center is an office building notable for its distinctive facade, which takes center stage. The designers employed innovative and cost-effective materials to create a unique facade pattern that blends elements of Brutalism and Functionalism. Inside, the sense of airiness and space is enhanced by natural light and high ceilings. Materia Arquitectónica, known for its emphasis on light, geometric patterns and open spaces, is the creative force behind this project.
Casa Iguana and del Árbol
At Casa Iguana, the interplay of light, open space and the arrangement of the structures is remarkably creative. (Adrián Llaguno/ Documentación Arquitectónica)
Casa Iguana, designed by Obra Blanca, evokes a sense of being outdoors through its intelligent spatial distribution. The interplay of light, open space and the arrangement of the structures is remarkably creative. The house is essentially divided into three independent volumes connected by a bridge, delineated by three lattice walls made of adobe sills, which reinterpret the wall and balcony finials found in some traditional constructions of the region. The finish of the adobe walls is both elegant and minimalist.
Casa del Árbol, also designed by Obra Blanca, was conceived around a 9-meter-diameter ceiba tree, with some of its branches integrated into the interior elements. Full of light, glass and vibrant Mexican colors, yet maintaining a sense of sobriety, this house has become a new classic in Veracruz. The space is divided into three blocks, featuring interior courtyards in various areas of the residence, large windows overlooking the garden and protection from the sun’s rays provided by the expansive canopy of trees. The design encourages a gradual discovery of the ceiba trees and their elements.
Casa del Abuelo
Casa del Abuelo in Córdoba, serves as a care center for the elderly. (Luis Gordoa/ Archdaily.mx)
Casa del Abuelo, created by Taller DIEZ 05 and located in the city of Córdoba, serves as a public care center for the elderly. Designed on a single level to facilitate mobility for its users, the space encourages engagement with the surrounding trees and is intended to promote communal activities and a sense of community. Its elegant and dynamic design enhances the overall experience.
The design of Plaza Marina Mercante by Taller DIEZ 05 is delightful. Overlooking the port of Veracruz, it was created to foster community interactions while inspiring contemplation and creating pauses within a cohesive space. Visitors are invited to walk through the area, while also finding spots to sit and appreciate the surroundings. Its concrete cubicles frame ocean views in an elegant manner. This public square is part of a larger urban regeneration project in the area and is now recognized as a valuable heritage site for the city.
The now-iconic Zoncuantla Apartments, designed by renowned architect Rafael Pardo Ramos and RP Arquitectos, emphasize views and nature, incorporating over 60 percent green space within the mesophilic forest along the old Xalapa-Coatepec highway. The design encourages contemplation of the environment, featuring four light-filled apartments with a facade that evokes materials such as wood, adobe and earth tones. This project is characterized by an abundance of terraces and a sense of openness.
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
Billed as an alternative to the Panama Canal, the CIIT train project might change impoverished southern Mexico beyond recognition. (Gobierno de Mexico)
Can Mexico’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec rail project (CIIT) achieve its dream of becoming a “new Panama Canal” and will the sprawling infrastructure project bring prosperity to impoverished southern Mexico? Will the arrival of commercial giants such as Amazon help develop the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Veracruz, or is the scheme doomed to failure?
With foreign investment, rapid development times and an ambitious economic plan all in play, will President Sheinbaum be able to deliver on the promises of her predecessor? Mexico News Daily’s subscriber-exclusive podcast looks at one of the most ambitious development schemes in Mexican history to predict the benefits, pitfalls and future of the CIIT megaproject.
MND Deep Dive: Mexico's transpeninsular train
This podcast was produced using AI tools. All information collected and discussed in this episode was investigated, written and edited by human journalists. Compiled from Mexico News Daily articles by Travis Bembenek, Peter Davies, Andy Altman-Ohr, Gabriela Solis and Cat Rainsford. Edited by Kate Bohné, Chris Havler-Barrett and Caitlin Cooper. Podcast produced by Chris Havler-Barrett.
