Twenty-two Mexican states already use the eTrace system, which helps authorities identify leads in the trafficking of firearms between the U.S. and Mexico.
(@FiscaliaEdomex/X)
In an ongoing effort to contain arms trafficking from the United States, México state is receiving training to utilize the eTrace platform that tracks the purchase and use of firearms used in violent crimes.
Twenty-two Mexican states and the federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) have already been accredited to use the eTrace system which was created by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to electronically exchange traced firearm data via a secure internet-based environment.
Last year alone, the United States opened 655 cases of arms trafficking to Mexico using eTrace. (@FiscaliaEdomex/X)
U.S. and Mexican officials met Wednesday to discuss progress on the joint initiative that has already resulted in 473 arrests and the removal of some 10,000 firearms from Mexico’s streets. Last year alone, the United States opened 655 cases of arms trafficking to Mexico.
The ATF and the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) are also training state authorities to identify arms and ammunition.
“The reason for this collaboration is to improve the best practices for identifying weapons so our forensic experts have all the necessary information [to trace them accurately], said INL Director Leah Pease.
According to the ATF, the eTrace system “is key in generating investigative leads to help solve violent crimes. … [to] quickly identify potential gun traffickers and suspects in criminal investigations. eTrace is used to trace crime guns from their original manufacturer or importer, through the wholesale/retail distribution chain, to the first person who bought them.”
During a June 27 conference at the United Nations, Mexico’s Public Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez urged the U.N. to take steps to curtail the arms trafficking that has contributed to rising violence in Mexico.
The 22 Mexican states already using eTrace are Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Puebla, Querétaro, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Yucatán and Zacatecas.
The market operated in a 16-story building known as Plaza Izazaga 89, located at the southern end of the capital’s Historic Center.
(Cuartoscuro)
Mexico City authorities on Thursday shuttered a downtown mega-market specializing in Chinese goods known as “Mexico Mart.”
The city’s Institute of Administrative Verification (Invea) stated that the shopping plaza and individual stores were being investigated for selling contraband and failing to pay import fees.
This is the second time that authorities have shut down Plaza Izazaga 89 under the suspicion that vendors are selling contraband goods. (Cuartoscuro)
The target of the raid was a 16-story building named Plaza Izazaga 89, located at the southern end of the capital’s Historic Center.
Plaza Izazaga 89 came under the spotlight last month after a June 16 front-page exposé in the newspaper Reforma entitled: “Chinese emporium thrives in informality.” The report claimed that the popular shopping plaza sold a large variety of products cheaply, without receipts or warranties, while employees were paid under the table.
Invea agents arrived at the plaza to carry out an inspection early on Thursday, accompanied by officials from the Interior Ministry as well as city officials from three agencies: Housing and Urban Development, Civil Protection and the Historic Center Authority.
As the market was opening, Invea agents sealed the building with official notices ordering it to remain closed. Some merchants had managed to close up their shops and prevent their goods from being confiscated, but the news site Infobae reported that 300 tons of merchandise had been seized.
Invea said that neither the individual shops nor the building owner had filed proper documentation reflecting the business being conducted at the site, as reported by the news organization Aristegui Noticias. Officials told reporters that the decision to close the building was taken for safety, security and health concerns.
This is not the first time Plaza Izazaga 89 has been shuttered. In March, Invea closed the mega-market while investigating accusations of contraband goods that had been smuggled into the country illegally, primarily from China and South Korea.
The newspaper La Jornada reported that Mexico City health inspectors had previously closed down several shops in the plaza for selling electronic cigarettes and accessories, all of which are banned in Mexico by presidential decree.
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed her plans to open three new passenger train routes by the end of her six-year term. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro) MARIO JASSO/CUARTOSCURO.COM
On Wednesday, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled her plans to build — not one, but three — new passenger train routes in Mexico based on the model of the Maya Train, which used a combination of public and private investment.
These three lines will connect Mexico City with Nuevo Laredo, Mexico City with Guadalajara and the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) with Pachuca.
Sheinbaum expects construction on the three routes to be completed before the end of her term in 2030. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Speaking on Wednesday, the president-elect provided further details of her plans, detailing which routes she will seek to develop and the public tender timeline.
For two of the three routes, the passenger lines will seek to use the same rights of way currently used by private freight operators. Existing tracks will be rehabilitated or new tracks will be laid along freight lines to accommodate the passage of both.
So far, three international firms have shown interest in the public tender to build the train cars: French Alstom, Spanish Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and Chinese CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive.
The new passenger train routes
Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo
On Monday, Sheinbaum announced a new passenger route passing through eight states, starting in Mexico City and ending in the border city of Nuevo Laredo. Construction on the route is scheduled to begin in October and will be completed in December 2029, Sheinbaum said.
Mexico City to Guadalajara
This train would connect Mexico City with the western city of Guadalajara, Jalisco. Sheinbaum said this line could be extended to the border city of Nogales, Sonora. Construction is also expected to begin in October and finish in May 2029.
This route will pass through Mexico City, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato and Jalisco, covering 581 kilometers of railway.
AIFA to Pachuca
This route will connect the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in México state with Pachuca, Hidalgo.
The first part of this train, which connects Buenavista station in Mexico City with the AIFA, is on track to be completed before the end of López Obrador’s term in September, as announced by the president at a press conference in May.
AIFA-Pachuca, like Buenavista-AIFA, will require new tracks to be laid.
Mexico’s railway sector is “all aboard”
The head of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF), Óscar del Cueto, celebrated Sheinbaum’s announcement.
In an interview with the newspaper El Economista, del Cueto said that planning three train lines — instead of the eight routes originally proposed during Sheinbaum’s campaign — shows a well-structured start for her government. However, he said that completing the routes in five years depends on the successful negotiation of right of way, which implies a complex analysis.
De vez en cuando, we all need new vocabulary. Paulina Gerez is here to help. (Luke Chesser/Unsplash)
¡Hola a todos! It’s time to practice our Mexican Spanish once again — and today we’re going to learn about adverbs of time. Adverbs of time are words that help us situate actions or events in time. They are essential for structuring and correctly understanding sentences. They can help you describe the frequency with which you do something.
Here are some of the most common adverbs of time in Spanish, focusing on “a menudo,” “de vez en cuando,” and “rara vez” in context to illustrate their usage.
A menudo
Meaning: Often
Examples:
A menudo visito a mis abuelos los domingos. (I often visit my grandparents on Sundays.)
A menudo leo antes de dormir. (I often read before going to sleep.)
No salimos a cenar muy a menudo. (We do not often go out for dinner.)
A menudo practicamos deportes en el parque. (We often play sports in the park.)
A menudo me reúno con mis amigos para tomar un café. (I often meet my friends for coffee.)
De vez en cuando me gusta salir a caminar. (Occasionally, I like to go out for a walk.)
De vez en cuando vamos al cine a ver una película. (Occasionally, we go to the movies to watch a film.)
De vez en cuando cocino una cena especial para mi familia. (Occasionally, I cook a special dinner for my family.)
De vez en cuando hago ejercicio por las mañanas, pero casi siempre en las tardes. (Occasionally, I exercise in the mornings but more often in the afternoons.)
De vez en cuando tomamos un día libre para relajarnos. (Occasionally, we take a day off to relax.)
Rara vez
Meaning: Rarely
Examples:
Rara vez veo televisión. (I rarely watch television.)
Rara vez salgo a bailar los sábados. (I rarely go dancing on Saturdays.)
Rara vez como comida rápida. (I rarely eat fast food.)
Rara vez viajo por trabajo. (I rarely travel for work.)
Rara vez tengo tiempo para descansar durante la semana. (I rarely have time to rest during the week.)
These adverbs are fundamental tools in learning to talk about time in Spanish. They allow us to place actions within a temporal framework and enrich our conversations. Familiarizing yourself with these adverbs and practicing them in various contexts will improve your fluency and understanding of the language. Start using them and see how your Spanish starts flowing!
Paulina Gerez is a translator-interpreter, content creator, and founder of Crack The Code, a series of online courses focused on languages. Through her social media, she helps people see learning a language from another perspective through her fun experiences. Instagram: paulinagerezm / Tiktok: paugerez3 / YT: paulina gerez
While they might seem an unlikely pair, Mexicans and Canadians are actually best friends. (Can Pac Swire/Flickr)
Recently, my cousin in Mexico City joked that he believed every Mexican’s dream was to live in Canada and every Canadian’s dream was to retire in Mexico. He works in real estate, so I guess he was speaking from experience. But I’m in a different field and I have to admit, I didn’t understand his perspective at first.
I grew up in Montreal with a Mexican mother. As a kid it was normal for me to interact with both Canadians and Mexicans, whether at social gatherings, on the phone or at the supermarket.
Mexicans in Canada have to dress like this to beat the cold. Every day. Even in summer. Especially in Summer. (Bushcraft Buddy)
But now I’m 30. If there’s anything I’ve learned in that time, it’s that anyone can get along with both Canadians and Mexicans. In the last three years, I’ve all over Mexico and met travelers from all over the world, both there and in Canada.
Visitors to Mexico almost universally love their time in the country, in no small part due to the warmth of the locals. Canadians have a similar reputation for being polite, which has now become a well-known and universally respected stereotype.
Here’s why Canadians and Mexicans make great friends.
Warmth & community spirit
Mexicans have strong family values. After all, I’m always surrounded by relatives when I visit my grandmother in México state. I can’t escape them. But they have a warmth that makes me feel right at home. It also translates into their friendships, interactions with neighbors and even passing strangers on the sidewalk.
Three years ago in Bacalar, a local I befriended told me something interesting. She said that, as a native Mexican, she’s used to saying good morning, good afternoon, and good evening to every person she makes eye contact with throughout her day. When she leaves a restaurant or convenience store, she always thanks the owners and staff, even if the service isn’t five stars.
This is a community spirit that resonates with me as a Canadian. In major cities like Montreal and Toronto, it’s easy to get caught up in the rat race. You work hard to get ahead at the office and at times struggle to find balance. But despite that, most Canadians don’t let career stress damage their relationships. I have friends who work in busy corporate environments, but you’d never know if you met them at the bar on a Friday night.
In other words, we treat people the way we want to be treated and try not to let our everyday problems affect our interactions with others. This mentality allows us to be more approachable and respectful. I think Mexicans also understand this. It’s almost like a compatible energy we both feel. In other words, kindness is super contagious.
Nightlife & incredible food
Admittedly, these poutine tacos may not be the perfect way to fuse Canadian and Mexican cuisine, but they’re definitely both great examples of delicious food on their own. (Reddit)
Mexicans love to drink and throw parties. That’s nothing new to vacationers who have stayed in places like Cancun, Playa Del Carmen or Puerto Escondido. It’s no less true in smaller cities too however. Salsa bars and late-night taquerias are perfect examples of how Mexicans love to eat, socialize and dance all night.
Where I’m from in Montreal, we’re known for having a thriving nightlife culture and many amazing restaurants from different cuisines. Other major Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver also have a present nightlife that’ll appease most party animals.
Pride at beating the U.S. at any sport
Mexicans and Canadians will always love beating the United States, at literally any sport. (Screen capture)
If we have anything in common, it’s that both Mexicans and Canadians have a complicated relationship with the United States. This of course goes beyond sports, but that doesn’t mean the rivalries both nations have with the U.S. in various sports and events are irrelevant.
The U.S. often cleans up at the Olympics and is known to have elite professional leagues in its own sports, like American football, basketball and baseball. From Mexico’s rivalry with the U.S. in soccer to Canada’s in hockey, winter Olympics events and basketball, both fan bases can find common ground in their shared rival and take pride in beating the powerhouse athletes the U.S. often produces.
One of my fondest memories with my dad was seeing him cheer with absolute joy when Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal against the U.S. in the gold medal hockey match at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Along with my brother, we were the lone Canadians in a bar full of Americans, which made the victory even sweeter.
In contrast, I also remember the sadness my Mexican family felt when the Americans knocked Mexico out of the 2002 World Cup. Ask any group of Mexican soccer fans on the street, and they’ll agree that had that defeat been against any other nation, it wouldn’t have been as painful.
Canadians and Mexicans may be divided by distance and language, but they connect on the important things.
With countless Canadians visiting Mexico every year and thousands of Mexicans living in Canada, the chances of us becoming best friends have never been higher.
Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist, and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café, or anywhere within Mexico visiting family and friends.
This article is part of Mexico News Daily’s “Canada in Focus” series. Read the other articles from the series here.
Mexico has had its rainiest June in years, and this week has been no exception, as this picture from Tuesday in Mexico City shows. The National Meterological Service has predicted intense to heavy rains will continue over most of the country at least until Friday morning. (Rogelio Morales Ponce/Cuartoscuro)
Troughs over Mexico’s west, northeast, east, and center, combined with humidity coming in from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, brought electrical storms, strong winds and hail to some parts of Mexico — and rain, lots of it. And will continue to do so overnight, the SMN predicted.
A satellite weather map shows how low-pressure systems, two tropical waves and other factors are leaving most of Mexico very, very wet. (SMN)
Here’s a look at what the SMN is predicting through 8 a.m. Friday.
Rainfall by states
Intense rainfall, expected to bring a total of 75 to 100 mm through Thursday, is forecast for parts of:
Coahuila
Nayarit
Jalisco
Colima
Michoacán
Guerrero
Morelos
Veracruz
Oaxaca
Chiapas
Very heavy rains (50 mm to 75 mm) are forecast for parts of the following states:
Nuevo León
Tamaulipas
San Luis Potosí
Guanajuato
Querétaro
Hidalgo
México state
Puebla
And SMN predicted between 25 and 50 mm of rain for areas of:
Sonora
Chihuahua
Durango
Sinaloa
Zacatecas
Aguascalientes
Mexico City
Tlaxcala
Tabasco
Campeche
Yucatán
Quintana Roo
Light rainfall, i.e. less than 5 mm, is expected for Baja California and Baja California Sur.
In addition, SMN is warning of brief, occasional but intense electrical storms until 9 p.m. Thursday in areas of the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan, Campeche Quintana Roo, Guerrero, Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Zacatecas and Durango, with wind gusts of 40 km/h to 60 km/h and possible hailstorms in Sonora and Sinaloa.
The SMN has warned that heavy, sudden rainfall could lead to landslides, increased river and stream levels, and flooding in low-lying areas and urged residents of areas experiencing heavier levels of rain to take precautions.
The national weather agency also said it is monitoring a potential low-pressure zone south of the Yucatán Peninsula, with a 20% probability of cyclonic development in the next week.
Mexico has had a rainy summer so far, with its rainiest June in more than 80 years. July is expected to continue the same trend, with some models predicting rainfall well above average in many parts of Mexico.
The store will offer a sneaker customization workshop and exclusive events for Nike members and the brands' sponsored athletes. (Nike)
Nike and Jordan Brand opened a “one-of-a-kind retail destination” in the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Center on Thursday.
Sneakerheads will find the shop on the corner of Madero and Gante streets, right next to the famed Iturbide Palace. The over 22,000 square-foot Nike & Jordan World of Flight Mexico City is the two retailers’ first store in Latin America. It is also just the two brands’ fifth joint location in the world.
Shoppers will find the latest innovations of both brands for sale there, including the Air Jordan 5 “El Grito,” starting Sept. 7. Designed to celebrate Mexico’s heritage, the new sneaker, inspired by Miguel Hidalgo’s historic “Cry of Independence” on Sept. 16, 1810, “commemorates Mexico’s fight for freedom, while expressing the pride in Mexican diversity through mysticism, culture and traditions.”
“The space is designed to serve Nike Members, who will have the opportunity to participate in exclusive sport, wellness and creativity events featuring Nike and Jordan Brand’s elite athletes, clubs, collaborators and more,” the brand proclaimed.
The Jordan World of Flight space will offer “exclusive footwear drops” and a workshop where fans can customize their Air Jordans and other sneakers, the companies announced. (Nike)
The Jordan space features “a lineup of exclusive high-heat footwear drops and hyperlocal apparel, as well as the Jordan Workshop experience. … Local basketball-inspired artwork and photography will highlight the city’s rich creative community, and The Lounge will provide a gathering place for the basketball community.”
Buyers can also customize the Air Jordan 1, Diamond Short and other iconic styles.
The Nike space begins on the second floor and provides “direct access to the brand’s latest innovations alongside immersive customization experiences.” The second floor is dedicated to women and girls, while the Nike by You experience is found on the third floor along with the Nike Football zone.
Limited-edition T-shirts, laces and dubraes (ornamental shoelace tags) paying homage to the rich culture of Mexico City and created in partnership with Mexico City-based graphic designers TodoBien Estudio will also be available while supplies last.
“Our exclusive products and member-only events from both brands are an invitation for the Latino community to join the Nike family,” Doug Bowles, vice president and general manager for Nike Latin America, said in a press release.
Lázaro Cárdenas Batel will be chief of staff as the Sheinbaum administration takes office. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday introduced Lázaro Cárdenas Batel as her chief of staff, signaling the return of the son of revered leftist icon Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas to the inner circle of the National Palace.
With the announcement, Sheinbaum revived the key cabinet position that was first created by former President Carlos Salinas de Gortari (1988–1994). Entrepreneur Alfonso Romo nominally filled the role at the outset of the current administration, but he resigned just two years into the term and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador did not designate a successor.
In making the presentation, Sheinbaum declared that she has complete confidence in Cárdenas and that as chief of staff, he would be in charge of coordinating the new cabinet.
“His job will be to help me stay on top of strategic issues while also maintaining relations with key sectors of society,” Sheinbaum said during the ceremony at her transition headquarters in the Mexico City borough of Iztapalapa.
When asked if his job would include meeting with members of the opposition, Cárdenas said he would do so.
“Whatever she asks and whenever she needs me to, [I will meet with opposition party leaders],” he said. “My tasks will correspond to the [political] moment. The president [-elect] has made it very clear what she expects, and [my office] will not intrude on other secretaries’ authority. The government has a very clear structure.”
Lázaro Cárdenas Batel, at left, is the son of famous left-wing politician Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, at right. (File photo)
Cárdenas was a founding member of the defunct Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) and served as governor of Michoacán from 2002 to 2008.
He returns to the National Palace after resigning from his position as chief advisor to the president in March 2023. Cárdenas stepped down after López Obrador made derogatory comments about his father. López Obrador accused the elder Cárdenas, a three-time presidential candidate, of betraying his movement by joining forces with the conservative opposition.
In response to a question from a reporter, Lázaro Cárdenas said that his resignation did not indicate a break with the ruling party or the “Fourth Transformation” movement soon to be led by Sheinbaum.
“I did not break with the party,” he said. “My cycle as lead advisor had run its course, and I saw an opportunity elsewhere.”
Sheinbaum had planned to introduce three other cabinet selections — Labor, Tourism and Culture — but told reporters she will present them at a later date. The president-elect had earlier said that she would reveal her choices to lead the Defense Ministry and the Naval Ministry in September.
The president-elect also said that her agenda for the remainder of the transition period would feature Monday and Wednesday press conferences, cabinet and policy meetings on Tuesday and weekend tours of the country alongside López Obrador.
Thursday marked the seventh consecutive day of the peso gaining against the U.S. dollar, making it the peso’s longest winning streak since mid-March.
The Mexican peso continued its upward streak against the US dollar on Thursday morning, strengthening yet again after the U.S. published encouraging inflation data that could mean a Federal Reserve rate cut is on the horizon.
According to Bloomberg data, the peso was trading at 17.73 to the U.S. dollar early on Thursday morning. By 6:40 p.m. EDT, however, Bloomberg reported that it had weakened slightly to 17.75 to the dollar.
The U.S. Consumer Price Index has been either falling or not increasing for four straight months, which supports US investor speculation that a Federal Reserve rate cut is imminent, said Janeth Quiroz, director of economic analysis at Monex. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
This upward trend shows Mexico’s peso appearing to recover after the currency’s volatility in the aftermath of the June 2 presidential elections. The peso’s strengthening this week puts it at its best performance against the U.S. dollar since June 5, when it traded at 17.53.
Thursday marked the seventh consecutive day of gains against the U.S. dollar, making it the peso’s longest winning streak since mid-March.
U.S. inflation in June continues downward trend
U.S. consumer prices fell more than expected in June, according to government data published on Thursday.
Last month, the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased by 0.1% after remaining unaltered in May. Over the 12 months leading up to June, the CPI increased to 3%. Economists surveyed by Reuters had anticipated a 0.1% increase and a 3.1% year-on-year rise.
According to Bloomberg, these figures show U.S. inflation has resumed its downward trend after a rebound at the beginning of 2024. While U.S. inflation has been overall declining, the annual headline inflation rate in Mexico has been rising for four straight months.
Janneth Quiroz, director of economic analysis at Monex, explained that inflation data in the U.S. supports investors’ bets on a continuing downward trend toward the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%. However, in his most recent appearance before Congress, the head of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell refrained from giving further details as to when any rate cuts would take place.
Victoria Rodriguez Ceja, the head of the Bank of Mexico board of governors. (File photo/Mexican government)
Bank of Mexico policy meeting indicates a divided board
The minutes from the most recent monetary policy meeting of Mexico’s central bank were also published on Thursday, revealing a split board vote on lowering the interest rate. Three members of the governing board are open to resuming the discussion of interest rate cuts in upcoming monetary policy meetings.
The current interest rate is 11%, the rate it has been since March, when the board voted to cut the rate from a record-high rate of 11.25%.
The Banxico minutes reveal that central bankers discussed the post-election volatility in the local market as being due to idiosyncratic factors. Bloomberg said these factors, which the bank does not mention, include Morena’s supermajority in Congress after Claudia Sheinbaum won the presidential election.
Under the new policy, Mexican steel and aluminum products imported to the U.S. are subject to a "melted and poured in Mexico" rule in order to avoid a U.S. 25% tariff, despite U.S. and Mexico being members in the USMCA trade pact. (Yasin Hemmati/Unsplash)
The United States and Mexico have announced a series of steps aimed at curbing the circumvention of U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum — particularly targeting products from China shipped through Mexico.
The measures — which also seek to strengthen steel and aluminum trade between Mexico and the U.S. — were announced on Wednesday. They include a new North American “melted and poured” standard for steel.
Under the new policy, U.S. importers of steel and aluminum products will be required to provide certificates of analysis to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, verifying the country of origin for those metals. (Shutterstock)
Under the new policy, steel product imports from Mexico will be subject to 25% tariffs under Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act — unless the steel is documented to have been melted and poured in Mexico, the U.S. or Canada, who are the members of the USMCA trade pact.
Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act authorizes the president to adjust tariffs on imports when the circumstances surrounding those imports are deemed to threaten national security.
For aluminum imports, in order to escape a 10% tariff, the product must not contain primary aluminum that was smelted or cast in China, Russia, Belarus or Iran. U.S. importers of steel and aluminum will be required to provide certificates of analysis to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, verifying the country of origin for those metals.
Also, Mexico has agreed to require companies that import steel into Mexico to provide more information on the metal’s country of origin.
“Both countries will implement policies to jointly prevent tariff evasion on steel and aluminum and strengthen North American steel and aluminum supply chains,” said a joint statement from U.S. President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
President López Obrador with Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022. López Obrador told reporters Thursday that he had successfully convinced the U.S. to make Mexican steel product imports with steel of Brazilian origin an exception to the 25% tariff. (lopezobrador.org)
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that the new action “addresses a gap that the previous administration and its isolated trade policies left unaddressed.”
According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement titled “Mexico works to strengthen the national steel industry,” the measures include an agreement with the U.S. “to design a mechanism so that Brazilian steel processed in Mexico is not subject to tariffs.”
“We have a very good relationship with Brazil,” López Obrador said in his Thursday morning press conference, “and it was agreed that Brazil will have special treatment in the case of imports of steel from Brazil to Mexico, and of steel and aluminum that may have components originating in Brazil.”
Despite the small volume of steel imports into the U.S. from Mexico that originated elsewhere — only about 13% of the 3.8 million tonnes imported in 2023 — U.S. officials said the new measures will prevent a potential surge in imports from China, where domestic demand remains weak.
