After a trade dispute panel ruled against Mexico's previous GM corn ban, President Sheinbaum is changing tack. (Rashide Frías/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday sent to Congress a constitutional reform proposal that seeks to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) corn in Mexico.
The proposal aims to “establish the obligation of the state to guarantee the cultivation of corn in national territory that is free from genetically modified organisms.”
It also seeks to define corn in the Constitution as an “element of national identity.”
Sheinbaum’s proposal notes that corn is a “fundamental crop in Mexico” and a plant that is “inseparable” from and “essential” to “Mexican food culture from its origins.”
A wide variety of native corn varieties are grown in Mexico and there are concerns that the cultivation of GM corn could genetically contaminate those crops.
The reform proposal — which seeks to modify articles 4 and 27 of the Mexican Constitution — aims to conserve and protect native corn varieties.
Corn originates in Mexico, and the country is home to a wide range of native corn varieties. (Conabio)
“We have to protect the biodiversity of Mexico,” Sheinbaum said in December while speaking about her plan to place a constitutional ban on the planting of GM corn.
Sheinbaum’s initiative, if approved, would provide an extra — and stronger — layer of protection against the cultivation of GM corn.
The government has sought to phase out the importation of GM corn for human consumption, starting with bans against the use of GM corn in tortillas and dough, with a possible future ban on GM corn for livestock, as well. However, the United States challenged the restrictions and a three-member USMCA dispute panel ruled in favor of the U.S. claims last month.
Approving ban on GM corn cultivation ‘a priority,’ says Morena lower house leader
The Chamber of Deputies, Mexico’s lower house of Congress, received Sheinbaum’s reform proposal on Thursday afternoon.
Ricardo Monreal, the ruling Morena party’s leader in the Chamber of Deputies, said on the X social media platform that the “processing” of the constitutional bill “will be a priority.”
The president of the lower house, Sergio Gutiérrez Mena, said that consideration of the bill by the Chamber of Deputies will be scheduled at the next meeting of the legislature’s permanent committee, which will take place next week.
Moving forward on the proposed GM corn ban is a congressional priority according to ricardo Monreal, Morena’s party leader in the lower house.(Cuartoscuro)
Approval of constitutional reform proposals requires the support of two-thirds of lawmakers in both houses of Congress. Morena and its allies have a two-thirds majority in the Chamber of Deputies and are officially just one vote short of a supermajority in the Senate.
However, finding an extra vote in the Senate has not been a problem for Morena in recent months. More than a dozen constitutional reform proposals — including a controversial judicial overhaul — have been approved since lawmakers elected last June assumed their positions on Sept. 1.
"Culiacán is in mourning," reads a sign carried by protesters in the Sinaloa capital on Thrusday. (José Betanzos Zárate/Cuartoscuro)
Protesters took to the streets and sacked a government office in Culiacán, capital of the troubled northwestern state of Sinaloa, after two young boys were killed in an apparent carjacking.
Thousands of local residents including mothers and children in school uniforms demanded an end to cartel violence on Thursday as they marched toward state government headquarters. Many protesters called for the resignation of Gov. Rubén Rocha, shouting “Out with Rocha!” as they approached the government buildings.
Thursday’s protest was in response to the murder of brothers Gael and Alexander Sarmiento, ages 12 and 9, respectively, and their father when armed men tried to steal their vehicle on Sunday. Two other minors were injured, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Hundreds of demonstrators set out from the school the two boys attended. A group of children carried banners with slogans such as “I want to live, not survive,” according to the news agency Agence France-Presse.
A group of protesters burst into the offices of the Sinaloa state government, breaking a glass door and causing damage before reaching the third floor where the governor’s office is located.
Gente de #Culiacán, cooperen con este hilo con fotos y videos de la protesta de hoy para que los ojos de #México vean qué pasa realmente. ¡Vamos! Inicio con estas cortesía de mi broder @alfrekjvpic.twitter.com/1Xcm3m6g8w
Following the march, a spokesperson for Gov. Rocha said a federal task force will take over the investigation of the triple homicide.
The spokesperson said Rocha was willing to meet with the protesters before they burst into the building, but they declined his offer.
“We understand the indignation of the public,” said Feliciano Castro, telling reporters that the governor remains open to dialogue.
Rocha has come under fire for mishandling the crisis and understating the violence. In October, the governor shrugged off the bloodshed that began a month earlier saying that violence occurs in cities across Mexico, while urging the public to not succumb to fear. Last week, he said people can live perfectly well in Sinaloa.
Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, at left, has faced criticism for his handling, and minimization, of Sinaloa’s ongoing cartel war. (Gobierno de Sinaloa)
Anger over the murder of the children grew online throughout the week, prompting a “more effusive, more emotional, very very sad and much harder” protest, Estefanía López told the AP.
“It took on a life of its own, I think a lot of people woke up,” López, a leader of Culiacan Valiente, a collective that has organized previous peace marches, said. “The disgust … has been such that today the people came out.”
New hotels are in the works for Cancún and elsewhere in Quintana Roo, the state governor has announced. (Shutterstock)
The government of Quintana Roo has forged a strategic alliance with two of the world’s top hotel chains that is expected to develop five new hotels and thousands of new rooms. Other hotel corporations have also announced plans for new resorts in the state.
Quintana Roo Gov. Mara Lezama signed the agreement with Hyatt Hotels president Mark Hoplamazian and Encarna Piñero, executive vice president and CEO of Spain’s Grupo Piñero, while in Madrid at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2025).
Gov. Lezama arrived in Madrid Wednesday to promote her state at the 2025 International Tourism Festival. (Mara Lezama/Facebook)
Investors from Spain’s Inverotel investment group confirmed that Grupo Piñero would build five new hotels across Mexico’s Caribbean this year.
Later, during an event celebrating Grupo Piñero’s 50th anniversary, Lezama and the Spanish hotelier signed a deal aimed at promoting 12 tourism destinations in the Caribbean state.
Tour operator Soltour will manage the promotional side of this venture, whose two priorities are creating shared prosperity and strengthening Mexico-Spain relations.
On Thursday, Quintana Roo Gov. Mara Lezama and Grupo Piñero CEO Encarna Piñero signed a deal to promote tourism destinations in the state. (Mara Lezama/Facebook)
“Fifty years ago in two different parts of the world, Quintana Roo and Grupo Piñero were born,” Lezama said at the signing ceremony. “And now we’re working together, united, because you can’t do it alone.”
To celebrate the alliance, the new partners are preparing a familiarization trip for 100 guests, who will be feted at new developments at several of Quintana Roo’s top tourist destinations.
In a statement, the government lauded the agreement “with two of the world’s most important hotel chains as proof of [its] commitment to promoting sustainable growth [and] emphasizing tourist developments that benefit the entire population.”
In another FITUR 2025 announcement, luxury hotel chain Excellence Resorts said it will build a hotel in Puerto Morelos, 38 kilometers south of Cancún, this year. It also confirmed that it would inaugurate the new Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres in Cancún on Feb. 12.
Three other hotel chains — Grupo H10, Grupo Riu and Grupo Meliá — advised Lezama that they would unveil investment plans in the coming weeks.
The good news was not restricted to the hotel industry. On Thursday, the governor announced that Air Canada is increasing service to Cancún this year, adding seven new flights per week to bring the weekly total to 60. The Canadian carrier is also considering increasing its Montreal-to-Cozumel service.
Mexican airline Viva Aerobus also has plans to add four new routes from the U.S. to Cancún, the governor said, and its Monterrey-Cozumel route will be made permanent.
Mexico’s Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez and Lezama have been at FITUR 2025 since it opened on Wednesday, cutting the ceremonial ribbon together at the Mexican Caribbean pavilion.
The annual fair — which ends on Sunday — has attracted 152 countries, 9,000 businesses and more than 153,000 tourism professionals to Madrid this year, according to El Economista.
President Sheinbaum shared on Thursday that a group of private sector employers have committed to offering thousands of jobs to Mexicans deported from the U.S. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Private sector employers affiliated with Mexico’s Business Coordinating Council (CCE) have committed to offering around 35,000 jobs to Mexicans deported from the United States, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday.
Speaking at her morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that her government has a very good relationship with the CCE, an umbrella organization made up of 13 business groups including manufacturing, agriculture and retail associations.
Mexico’s Business Coordinating Council (CCE), led by Francisco Cervantes, promised thousands of jobs for deportees across a variety of industries. (CCE/Facebook)
“We thank them because they’re offering around 35,000 jobs for Mexicans who could be deported from the United States,” she said.
Sheinbaum said that the available jobs are in various sectors including services and manufacturing. She didn’t specify where they are located, but the CCE is a national association representing employers across the country.
The president’s announcement came three days after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to carry out the “largest deportation operation in American history” if elected to the presidency for a second time.
The Associated Press reported that “groups of migrants began to be deported to Mexico on Tuesday night,” but large-scale deportations have not begun. Those deported this week arrived in border cities including Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez.
During the first week of Trump’s second presidential term, the U.S. has deported groups of people to border cities but has yet to begin the massive deportation campaign promised by the returning president. (Nacho Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
On Monday, Sheinbaum said that the federal government had prepared a “comprehensive program” for Mexicans deported during the second Trump administration.
The program — part of a strategy called “México te abraza,” or “Mexico embraces you” — includes welfare support for deportees, registration with the Mexican Social Security Institute and transport so that returning migrants “can reach their places of origin,” Sheinbaum said.
Around 5 million undocumented Mexicans are estimated to be living in the United States.
The federal government has sought to strengthen its consular network as it prepares to provide consular support and legal advice to those at risk of — or facing — deportation.
It also developed a “panic button” cell phone app for Mexicans in the United States who think, or know, they are about to be detained by U.S. immigration authorities. The app — called ConsulApp Contigo and available for download on Google Play — includes a panic button which, if pressed, alerts relatives and Mexican consular officials of a person’s imminent detention.
The app is only available on Android phones and the emergency button can only be used within the United States, according to Fox 26 Houston.
Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez shared details about the program México te abraza on Monday. (Presidencia)
As part of efforts to dissuade Trump’s mass deportation plans, Sheinbaum and other federal officials have emphasized the significant contribution Mexicans make to the United States economy.
CCE: Deportations provide opportunities to ‘strengthen the national economy’
In a statement issued on Monday, the CCE “reaffirmed its commitment” to working with the Mexican government to address “migratory challenges,” including deportations.
“While this phenomenon creates significant challenges it also provides opportunities to strengthen the national economy by reintegrating Mexican returnees with decent jobs and opportunities for development,” the council said.
“Through investment in strategic sectors, the promotion of entrepreneurship and job training, the private sector is committed to collaborating with authorities to guarantee that those who return find a favorable environment for their economic and social reintegration,” the CCE said.
“This collaboration is fundamental to create stability, strengthen the social fabric and promote sustained growth in the region,” it added.
To pull off the heist, the thieves disguised themselves as Profepa inspectors and "confiscated" the miniature turtles from their caretakers. (Turtle Survival Alliance)
Dozens of tiny endangered turtles are missing after men impersonating environmental inspectors stole them from a laboratory in the Pacific resort city of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, between December and January.
According to news outlet Imagen Noticias, two men dressed as inspectors from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa), entered the laboratory of Guadalajara University’s Coast of Jalisco University Center (Cucosta) in Puerto Vallarta on Dec. 9. The thieves took 40 Vallarta mud turtles, which in addition to being endangered are also the smallest freshwater turtle in the world.
The Vallarta mud turtle is endemic to Puerto Vallarta’s Banderas Bay, meaning it isn’t found anywhere else on Earth. (puertovallarta.net)
Later, on Jan. 13, two men also wearing Profepa uniforms, took 15 more turtles after smashing windows and forcing the locks.
The Vallarta mud turtle (Kinosternon vogti) has a shell length ranging from 7.5 to 9.5 centimeters. It lives only in Banderas Bay on the border of Jalisco and Nayarit, where its habitat is threatened by tourism development. It was discovered in 2018 and is included in the list of endangered animals in Mexico.
Cucosta filed a lawsuit for trespassing, fraud and breach of trust.
Mariana Boy, the chief of Profepa, told Imagen Noticias her agency assumes both thefts were committed by the same men.
A mud turtle found by the side of the road in Puerto Vallarta. (Andrew Walde/Turtle Survival Alliance)
“We think the people who took the turtles in January are the same ones that stole them in December. They thought it was too easy to go back and steal more samples, once they knew their location,” she said.
Boy added that the turtles might be destined for the Asian black market, where there’s a high demand for exotic species. They may also be sold in Mexico as domestic pets.
While Cucosta said it is not sure of the market price of this species, the turtles are valuable due to their scarcity; they are only found within the Banderas Bay region.
According to Cucosta, the challenges to protect these animals stem from the urban sprawl of Puerto Vallarta, where their habitat faces constant pressures from development. Furthermore, due to the proximity of roads, they are at risk of being run over, especially during the rainy season when they tend to leave their rivers and ponds to wander farther afield. Capturing them to sell them in the black market is another threat to their conservation.
Profepa, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), said it would remove the remaining turtles from the research center to prevent further thefts, and take them to an alternative site where they can ensure their well-being. They also alerted customs authorities to be on the alert for the potential departure of the animals from the country.
Authorities also advised Wildlife Conservation Management Units (UMA) to reinforce the security of their laboratories and research centers to protect the species held there.
When disaster strikes, here's how to tell what people are saying! (Rendy Novatino/Unsplash)
Living in San Miguel de Allende is as beautiful as it is precarious. The city’s narrow, cobblestone streets and barely-there sidewalks make every step a test of awareness and agility. Over the years, I’ve faced more than a few moments of near panic, frantically trying to warn foreigners of oncoming peril. It’s at those moments that I’ve noticed an inconvenient quirk: despite being fluent in English, my warnings come blurting out in Spanish.
Why do bilingual people revert to their native language under pressure? It all comes down to how the brain processes emotions and urgency. The limbic system, which handles primal emotions, reacts much faster than the brain’s language centers. Since our mother tongue is deeply ingrained in the neural pathways formed during childhood, it naturally becomes the default mode of expression. Automatic responses in times of danger prioritize instinct and speed over linguistic accuracy.
Súbete a la banqueta, because here come the horses. (Sandra Gancz Kahan)
Lost in translation: the main safety words to know in Spanish
While Mexicans understand the urgency behind a shouted “Aguas!”, many foreigners hesitate, trying to make sense of “waters.” Not everyone in Mexico speaks English, and even those of us who do will instinctively resort to our first language in moments of stress. That’s just how our brains were hardwired by vigilant parents during childhood.
I trust that most people, when faced with urgency, can pick up on other forms of communication, like a panicked tone or wild gestures, even if they don’t fully understand the words. Common sense tends to kick in when it matters most, no matter the language. That said, when you visit Mexico, it’s always wise to know the words of the land.
While nailing your taco order is impressive, understanding key warnings should be your top priority. These phrases, shouted instinctively by locals, can be lifesavers at critical times. Take a moment to commit them to heart. Here are some essential warnings to know:
Safety words in Spanish often do not translate literally. (Canva)
Auxilio: “Help.” If you hear this, it means someone is in serious trouble and needs immediate assistance. Think of it as the ultimate distress call. If you ever need to use it, yell it loud and clear!
Cuidado: Be careful. This is the quintessential warning word we grew up hearing from our parents when we were about to make any number of foolish childhood moves. It’s a versatile alert for any potential danger.
Abusado: “Be alert.” This word can also mean “abused,” but not in this context. This is our shorthand for ”keep your guard up!” Whether it’s to watch out for pickpockets or a tourist scam, this word is your friendly reminder to stay sharp. Think of it as a verbal caffeine shot, snapping you out of autopilot and into focus mode.
Aguas: Literally “waters,” but it works like “watch out!” does in English. This warning dates to a time when chamber pots and washbasins were emptied from second-story windows onto the streets below due to the absence of modern plumbing. To spare unsuspecting pedestrians from an unpleasant surprise, people would shout “Aguas!” as a heads-up for what was about to come splashing down. It has since evolved into a universal warning for any kind of danger.
Súbete a la banqueta: “Get up on the sidewalk.” While it might be a bit of a tongue-twister, if someone shouts this, it’s not a casual suggestion, it’s an urgent command to step off the street and into safety.
“Aguas wey! Look out for that that bump.” (Sandra Gancz Kahan)
Con permiso: “Excuse me,” or “with your permission.” This phrase is used to ask someone to move out of the way. While less urgent than others on this list, it’s good to recognize when you’re being kindly asked to make room.
Wey: “Dude.” This word is often used in moments of urgency to grab someone’s attention. Rarely used in respectful interactions, it’s often the first word blurted out when there’s no time to think.
Espera: “Wait.” This word is like a verbal brake pedal. If someone says “Espera!,” they’re telling you to hit a hard pause and reassess.
Corre: “Run.” Whether it’s to dodge an oncoming peril or catch a departing bus you swore wasn’t leaving for another ten minutes, Corre is the universal command to get your feet moving.
Peligro: “Danger.” This classic danger sign is often written in bold, attention-grabbing letters. If you see it, take it seriously, it’s practically shouting, “Stay away!”
Ojo: Literally “eye.” This word is shorthand for “Pay attention!” You’ll spot it in writing as a heads-up to stay alert, often on newscasts warning about threats.
Precaución: “Caution.” You’ll see it on signs warning about wet floors or uneven steps. It’s not as urgent as “peligro,” but don’t ignore it.
Learning the language of safety
If you’re planning to spend time in Mexico, do yourself a favor and prioritize learning the common warnings in Spanish before perfecting your verb conjugations. Practice recognizing them so you’re ready to react without waiting for a translation. Keep in mind that different regions of Mexico may have their own unique expressions, so don’t hesitate to ask locals about the key phrases to know, and please stay safe, amigos!
Are there any useful Spanish safety words you use in your day-to-day life?
Sandra is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected]
Imagine Tai Chi open lessons and the best Chinese street food in one place? That's Mexico City's Chinatown for you. (Moisés Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)
Nestled in the heart of Mexico City’s historic center lies Barrio Chino, often dubbed the “smallest Chinatown in the world.” This vibrant enclave, spanning just one block long and two blocks wide, offers a unique blend of Chinese and Mexican cultures that belies its compact size.
The entrance to Barrio Chino is marked by a striking Paifang, a traditional Chinese archway adorned with tiles imported directly from China. Just a block away stands the Friendship Arch, a gift from the People’s Republic of China in 1992, symbolizing the cultural ties between the two nations.
Mexico City’s Barrio Chino, often dubbed the “smallest Chinatown in the world.”(Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
This small stretch of Calle Dolores is a feast for the senses. Red paper lanterns sway in the breeze, while twinkling lights and colorful stalls create a lively atmosphere. Meander past shops selling everything from green tea to nori wraps to Maneki Neko figurines: the money-making waving cats which, as anyone with a penchant for Asian culture already knows, actually originate from Japan but are wildly popular in China. In between mini-supers are Chinese restaurants flanked by Chinese characters inscribed on the walls.
Young women, eyelashes piled high with mascara and lips tinted a variety of reds and pinks, call out to passerby from behind oversized aluminum pots with steam spilling out from the sides of the lids. To the left is a collection of dough shaped into a bun the size of your fist, each dyed with a neon color so stark one might mistake it for petroleum. For good measure, it’s sold in a classic Chinese to-go container.
There are people everywhere, piling into Chinese-Mexican fusion restaurants rife with the smell of fried food. Visitors can sample dishes like tacos orientales (Oriental tacos) or chop suey a la mexicana, which combine Chinese cooking techniques with Mexican ingredients and spices. On weekends it’s nearly impossible to get from one end of this little barrio to the other without physically pummeling through crowds of families. As one might expect from a Mexico City Chinatown, it’s a noisy place.
However, what stands out the most isn’t its size nor its chaotic ambience. It’s the clear lack of… well, Chinese people. You can feasibly walk every square inch of Chinatown without seeing one person hailing from the PRC. Some of the smaller shops are indeed run by Chinese families, but they’re vastly outweighed in majority.
All of which raises the question — what’s a Chinatown doing here in the Historic Center?
What’s a Chinatown doing in Mexico City’s Historic Center?
Mexico City’s Chinatown has welcomed foreign families and workers for decades, many of whom were escaping economic hardships in their homeland. (Gobierno CDMX/Wikimedia Commons)
Though there have been Chinese people living in Mexico since the colonial period, the history of this distinctive neighborhood dates back to the 1880s, during the presidency of Porfirio Díaz. In an effort to modernize Mexico, Díaz’s government implemented policies to encourage European and Asian immigration. Though not as successful as other Latin American countries in this goal, the policies did attract immigrants, particularly from Lebanon, Italy, Spain and China. Foreign families and workers, many of whom were escaping economic hardships in their homeland, settled in the country.
Initially, Chinese immigrants settled in northern Mexico. However, the Mexican Revolution proved to be a tumultuous and dangerous period for these communities. A series of violent and discriminatory acts forced many Chinese residents to flee south to Mexico City. The tragic Torreón Massacre is one of the most egregious, when revolutionary supporters of Francisco Madero ransacked the Coahuila town and murdered hundreds of Chinese men, women and children.
By the 1920s and 1930s, a thriving Chinese community had managed to establish itself around Dolores Street in Mexico City’s historic center. This area became a hub of Chinese immigrant activity, with numerous businesses catering to both the Chinese community and local Mexicans. The streets of Dolores and Luis Moya were lined with Chinese-owned establishments, including restaurants, laundries, bakeries and various shops.
The Chinese immigrants who settled in Mexico City brought with them their entrepreneurial spirit and cultural traditions. They opened “cafés de chinos” (Chinese cafes) that served both Chinese and Mexican cuisine, becoming popular spots throughout the older sections of the city. These businesses not only provided economic opportunities for the Chinese community but also introduced elements of Chinese culture to Mexico City’s urban landscape.
Chinese cafés in Mexico City’s Chinatown merge both Chinese and Mexican cuisine. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)
However, this period of prosperity was followed by significant challenges. In the 1930s and 1940s, Chinese immigrants and their descendants faced persecution stemming from anti-foreign sentiment and racist public opinion. This difficult period saw many Chinese-Mexicans struggling to maintain their cultural identity while facing discrimination and political pressure from so-called “anti-Chinese campaigns.”
Despite these hardships, the Chinese community in Mexico City has shown remarkable resilience. In recent decades, there has been a concerted effort to revitalize the Chinatown area. A major renovation project began in 2008, which included the addition of the iconic Chinese arch on Calle Artículo 123. This arch, known as El Arco Chino, was a collaboration between Mexican and Chinese artists and architects, featuring engravings on marble and granite imported from China.
Today, while Barrio Chino may not have a large Chinese population, it remains a symbol of cultural fusion and historical significance. According to El Financiero, Mexico is home to approximately 11,000 Chinese residents, though exact statistics are challenging to obtain. Many Chinese descendants have dispersed to other neighborhoods in Mexico City, such as Viaducto Piedad, Polanco and Cuauhtémoc.
Must-try restaurants in Mexico City’s Chinatown
For those looking to experience the flavors of Barrio Chino, several notable restaurants stand out:
Hong King Restaurant: Founded in 1963, this long-standing Cantonese establishment offers authentic Chinese cuisine, including their renowned Peking duck.
Restaurante 4 Mares: Specializing in Cantonese-style seafood since 1982, this restaurant is known for its salt and garlic fried shrimp.
Tío Pepe Cantina: While not a Chinese restaurant, this historic cantina offers a unique perspective on Barrio Chino, with windows providing direct views of the bustling Dolores Street.
Want to visit but not sure when? Chinese New Year celebrations will take place in Barrio Chino on Wednesday, Jan. 29. It’s a vibrant time of year to visit, as the streets are adorned with even more colorful decorations than usual, and traditional lion and dragon dances are performed. The festivities attract both locals and tourists and is a bright, happy block party you won’t want to miss.
Barrio Chino may be small in size, but it stands as a testament to the resilience and cultural contributions of Chinese immigrants in Mexico. It continues to evolve, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the intertwining of Chinese and Mexican cultures in the heart of Mexico City.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.
President Sheinbaum was responding to a Wall Street Journal report that Trump is using his tariff threats to pressure Mexico and Canada into early renegotiation of the USMCA trade pact. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
The stability of the Mexican peso in recent days and the upcoming USMCA review were among the issues President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her Thursday morning press conference.
Reporters also got an update on ridership numbers for the Maya Train railroad, the previous federal government’s most ambitious infrastructure project.
Sheinbaum pointed out that Trump himself acknowledged in a memo issued Monday that USMCA review won’t happen until 2026 — and that the trade pact’s scheduled review isn’t the same as a renegotiation. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
USMCA review is in 2026, Sheinbaum stresses after WSJ report that Trump is pushing for early renegotiation
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that “President Trump is using the threat of imposing stiff tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico as soon as next week to pressure the two nations to start renegotiating a continental trade deal, according to people familiar with the matter.”
The WSJ noted that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, “is up for statutory review in 2026,” but citing its sources said that “Trump hopes to renegotiate it sooner.”
For her part, Sheinbaum highlighted that a memorandum Trump issued on Monday — the “America First Trade Policy” — acknowledges that the USMCA review will take place in 2026.
Sheinbaum said that work related to the 2026 review is starting but declared that there would be no reason to bring the review forward.
Sheinbaum also discussed the Mexican peso, pointing out that the currency has been doing better and better against the U.S. dollar since Donald Trump took office Monday. (Graciela López Herrera/Cuartoscuro)
“What normally begins is a process of consultation with business people, workers, different sectors of society to see how the trade agreement has worked,” she said.
Trump’s memo directed the United States Trade Representative to “assess the impact of the USMCA on American workers, farmers, ranchers, service providers, and other businesses and make recommendations regarding the United States’ participation in the agreement.”
Sheinbaum highlights that the peso hasn’t depreciated since Trump took office
The peso “could have” lost ground following “the arrival of President Trump” but its value “has been maintained,” she said.
“That means there is confidence and that the Mexican economy is doing well, it’s strong,” Sheinbaum said even though economic growth slowed in 2024 and is forecast to slow further this year.
The peso — which depreciated significantly in the second half of last year — has in fact appreciated since Trump commenced his second term.
According to Bank of Mexico data, the USD:MXN rate at the end of the trading day on Thursday was 20.32. Compared to the USD:MXN closing rate of 20.77 last Friday, the peso has appreciated 2.2% this week.
Maya Train ridership exceeded target in 2024, says railroad director
Oscar David Lozano Águila, the Maya Train’s general director, told reporters Thursday that the government-run train has so far transported around 790,000 passengers. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Óscar David Lozano Águila, general director of the state-owned Maya Train company, presented data that showed that 791,730 Maya Train tickets were sold between Dec. 16, 2023 — when the railroad partially opened — and Jan. 20, 2025.
“We’ve managed to transport around 790,000 people. The target in 2024 was 700,000, we exceeded it,” he said.
Lozano said that the ridership goal this year is 1.2 million passengers. The railroad — which links cities and towns in Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Chiapas — is now fully operational. The government’s long-term target is 3 million passengers per year.
Data presented by Lozano showed that the busiest stations on the Maya Train railroad are the Mérida (Teya) and Cancún (Airport) stations. The Mérida-Cancún route has been the most popular in the 13 months since the railroad opened, closely followed by the Cancún-Mérida route.
With her recent naming as the lead designer of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Tang Wing overhaul, along with her participation in the planned renovation of Paris' Centre Pompidou, the Mexico City architect is quickly becoming one of the architecture world's most prominent creatives. (Wikipedia)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City recently revealed the design for its new contemporary art wing — a project in the hands of acclaimed Mexican architect Frida Escobedo.
Escobedo’s design of the Met’s modern and contemporary art wing marks the first time in the museum’s 154-year history that a woman has been chosen to lead the design of a major wing.
Escobedo’s planned design for the Met prioritizes accessibility, sustainability and seamless integration with the museum’s labyrinthine and sometimes disorienting campus. (Frida Escobedo/Instagram)
Her vision reimagines the wing’s modern and contemporary galleries, doubling exhibition space to 70,000 square feet within the existing footprint.
The design features a textured limestone façade inspired by traditional Mexican celosías — architectural screens, or lattices — that blend influences from multiple cultures.
Now to be named after lead donors Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, the wing’s transformation will include expansive outdoor terraces on the fourth and fifth floors, offering sweeping views of Central Park and Manhattan’s skyline, in addition to connecting the galleries to the rest of the museum.
Escobedo, 45, was tapped to lead the now-US $550 million project in early 2022, following an extensive search by the largest art museum in the Americas and one of the world’s most prestigious. She beat out older and more experienced architects, major studios and winners of the esteemed Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Escobedo’s portfolio also includes the design of the Serpentine Pavilion in London in 2018 and the upcoming renovation of Paris’ Pompidou Center.
Last year, she was named the world’s 2024 Architect of the Year by Architectural Digest España (AD).
Another upcoming feather in Escobedo’s cap is the redesign of the Pompidou Centre in Paris, which was awarded to the Moreau Kusunoki agency in association with the Frida Escobedo Studio. (Pompidou Centre)
“If the Met in New York and the Pompidou Centre in Paris have placed their trust in her talent, there must be a reason,” the publication wrote.
Escobedo’s design for the Met prioritizes accessibility, sustainability and seamless integration with the museum’s expansive, eclectic, labyrinthine and sometimes disorienting campus.
“The wing is in New York, yet of the world,” Escobedo said in a statement. “It reflects the global nature of this great collection and also draws inspiration from the Met’s unique surroundings.”
Construction is slated to begin in 2026 and conclude in 2030. It is part of a larger $2 billion overhaul of the Met, which also includes renovations to the adjacent Michael C. Rockefeller Wing.
A rising star in global architecture, Escobedo studied architecture at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, then earned a master’s degree in art, design and the public domain at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. In recent years, she has taught at Columbia, Harvard, Rice and Yale.
Escobedo was born in Mexico City in 1979 to a doctor father and sociologist mother, and as a youth was always drawing or making models, though she didn’t decide to study architecture at university until “the last minute,” according to AD.
She began her professional career collaborating with Alejandro Alarcón, a Mexican architect whose designs reflect Mexico’s the cultural and social contexts of Mexico. Together, they founded the Perro Rojo studio in 2003 (when she was only 24), then in 2004 designed Casa Negra, a house in Valle de Bravo, México state, that is mounted on four tubes above the ground and is celebrated for its dark, geometric design and integration with the surrounding natural environment.
In 2006, she founded her own firm, which includes a studio in Colonia Juárez, in the center of Mexico City, where she spends about half her time — when not traveling or working in her other studio in New York in 2022. One of her first projects was the renovation of La Tallera, the residence and studio of Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros in Cuernavaca, Morelos.
Escobedo’s portfolio includes the annual design of the Serpentine Pavilion in London and the upcoming renovation of Paris’ Pompidou Center. Her 2018 design of the former — “a delicate exercise in concrete brick,” including lattice walls that “played with space and changing light,” according to AD — earned her international recognition.
In 2019, she was named an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and her studio was named one of the world’s “100+ Best Architecture Firms” by the magazine Domus.
Known for her minimalist yet poetic style, Escobedo draws on Mexican vernacular traditions while addressing contemporary needs. She has been labeled a trailblazer in the field, celebrated for bridging historical influences with innovative design.
“Frida Escobedo’s extraordinarily inspired, deeply thoughtful and dynamic design cements her standing as one of today’s most relevant architects,” said Met Director Max Hollein.
In addition to the Met and the Pompidou Centre, she is also working on residential buildings in Harlem and Brooklyn.
“The most beautiful thing about architecture is that you are always doing things for the first time in your life,” Escobedo told the newspaper El País last year.
Cartels have diversified beyond drug-trafficking, meaning they have financial ties to a wide variety of Mexican banks and businesses. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
United States President Donald Trump’s likely designation of Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations will have a major impact on banks and other businesses in Mexico, according to experts consulted by Bloomberg News.
The order directed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “make a recommendation” regarding the designation of specific cartels as terrorist organizations within 14 days.
Bloomberg reported that such a designation “risks creating a chilling effect on financial firms and other companies over fears they could face severe penalties by even unwittingly serving or paying criminals.”
Citing former officials, the news agency said that “Mexico’s banking industry is particularly likely to take a more conservative approach to lending and other services given its role as a go-between on transactions.”
However, the president of the Economic Analysis Committee of the Mexican Institute of Public Accountants told the El Financiero newspaper — a Bloomberg partner — that the U.S. government can’t unilaterally take action against banks in Mexico in money laundering cases.
Mexican banks are likely to take a conservative approach in the face of the U.S.’s impending designation of specific cartels as terrorist groups. (Cuartoscuro, Wikimedia Commons)
Ernesto O’Farrill said that U.S. authorities will need to work on a “framework for cooperation and collaboration” with Mexico in order to crack down on financial institutions facilitating cartel transactions here.
Nevertheless, the designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations in the United States would likely lead banks in Mexico to exercise even more caution than they already do to avoid facilitating illicit transactions. Mexican authorities can, of course, take their own action against banks facilitating the movement of illicit money. They have previously frozen accounts linked to criminal organizations including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
A U.S. terrorist designation will likely apply to powerful Mexican criminal organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG, which former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief Anne Milgram said together pose “the greatest criminal threat the United States has ever faced.”
‘A challenge to the financial system like it has never seen’
Sandro García, a former anti-money laundering official at Mexico’s National Banking and Securities Commission, told Bloomberg that the designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations represents “a challenge to the financial system like it has never seen.”
“This is going to be ‘know your customer times 10,'” said García, who now works as an independent consultant.
Bloomberg reported that banks are “deeply wary of the risks of inadvertently financing illicit activities and the steep financial penalties they could face.”
Mining, agriculture, fishing and transportation are just a few of the sectors where cartels have deeply enmeshed themselves in the Mexican economy. (Diego Delso / CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Citing former officials, the news agency said that Mexico’s banking sector, which includes foreign banks such as BBVA, Santander and Scotiabank, “may curtail business in areas known to be connected to the drug trade, from mining and livestock to transportation and agriculture.”
A spokesperson for the Mexican Banking Association told Bloomberg that banks in Mexico have solid relationships with authorities in the United States and fully comply with money laundering regulations. The spokesperson said that the banks are analyzing developments in the United States and will soon issue a position.
‘This is going to have a seismic impact on business and politics in Mexico’
Bloomberg reported that the implications of designating Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations “will stretch far beyond just banks” given that cartels “hold sway in vast areas of Mexico and have diversified into extortion rackets as well as networks of front companies.”
Trump’s executive order said that “in certain portions of Mexico,” cartels “function as quasi-governmental entities, controlling nearly all aspects of society.”
Bloomberg said that “depending on how far Trump enforces the new order — which will name cartels within 14 days — it could ensnare real estate, gasoline sales, security services, auto parts and other manufacturing operations that may be paying protection or dealing with suppliers who have criminal links.”
Paul Craine, a consultant and former head of the DEA in Mexico, told the news agency that “this is going to have a seismic impact on business and politics in Mexico.”
Extortion rackets can pull small, independent businesses into financial dealings with cartels. (Wikimedia Commons)
“You look at the amount of money that’s generated by the cartels through, not just drug trafficking, but through all of their criminal business lines, and it’s just so intertwined into the economy,” he said. “You start seeing all the tentacles.”
US could also target remittances
Shannon O’Neil, senior vice president and senior fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told Bloomberg that the United States government could target the U.S. remittances industry as part of its efforts to crack down on cartels.
“A crackdown on remittances could embroil companies like Western Union,” Bloomberg reported.
However, a representative for Western Union told Bloomberg that the company’s “advanced systems screen transactions in real time against internal and government watchlists.”
“We also work closely with law enforcement, regulatory authorities, and other government agencies globally to address these risks and foster the integrity of the global financial system,” the representative said.
