How groups of ‘small hosts’ are fighting Mexico City’s AirBnB ban

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September 12, 2025

anton-lukin-W-CUUuYXDMQ-unsplash (1) — With new legislation targeting short term rentals aiming to solve Mexico City's cost of living crisis, some AirBnB hosts are fighting back aganst what they feel is unfair scapegoating. (Unsplash/Anton Lukin)

In April and October of 2024, under the interim mayorship of Martí Batres, Mexico City passed new laws regarding short-term rentals like those listed on Airbnb and other online platforms.

The city has implemented several new regulations requiring all rental properties and rental contracts to register with a government-operated city-wide registry. It is illegal to rent any “vivienda social” – houses and apartments built to be economically accessible and available through the government’s Infonavit program (the scheme which provides funding for mortgages). That includes structures rebuilt by the government in the wake of the 2017 earthquake. In the case of four properties or more, an individual or company is now required to have commercial zoning for their properties, as well as business licenses and other safety and services requirements.

The new short-term regulations in Mexico City

The most restrictive of these new regulations allows short-term rentals to be occupied for only 6 months (or 182 days) each year. This measure aims to discourage property owners from listing their properties on Airbnb and other platforms, encouraging them to return to the residential rental market instead.

Critics of short-term rentals point to their effect on the social fabric of neighborhoods. For example, the displacement of residents, with long-term housing converted into holiday rentals and rising rental prices due to various factors. For these reasons, other major world cities, such as Amsterdam and Paris, have implemented short-term housing restrictions. Barcelona plans to outlaw short-term rentals altogether by 2029.

Almost a year after the new regulations were passed, the city’s rental contract registry is not yet online, and the implementation of the new restrictions has been held up in court as many owners of short-term rentals have initiated legal procedings against the government.

Why small hosts are seeking alternatives to the new regulations

Groups of “pequeños anfitrones” (small hosts) that own 1 to 3 properties have started to organize among themselves, coordinating to present proposals to the city that might allow them to keep renting their properties but minimize harm both to the local economy and to an income source that they say they depend on.

They point out that laws passed in this area, such as Amsterdam’s restriction of short-term rentals to 90 days out of the year in 2019, have not produced the intended outcomes. Instead, rents in the city continue to rise, and housing stock continues to be at a shortfall. In New York, where short-term rentals have effectively been banned, hotel prices have skyrocketed.

According to internal surveys, the category of small host includes 12,000 families. Of that 12,000, over half are women, and 15% senior citizens. Using internal surveys, the group has determined that 77% own a single property, and 70-80% of these hosts say that rental is their principal income.

Mexico City aerial view — Over 12,000 families are in the category of pequeño anfitrones, meaning they manage only 1-3 properties. (Unsplash/Julie Ricard)

In a recent event in Colonia Del Valle, the representatives of these groups clarified that they are not large real estate conglomerates that own dozens of properties or entire buildings of short-term rentals, nor are they fighting to protect those big companies’ interests. In a press conference on August 28, the hosts called on the city to regulate these large conglomerates, but demurred when asked about specifics, saying that should be determined by city officials.

Short-term rentals and the housing shortage in Mexico City

In an attempt to prove that short-term rentals are not the cause of the city’s housing shortage, the pequeños anfitriones point to a 2025 study “Vivienda y Plataformas Tecnológicas en CDMX” by D+D Urbanismo,” which shows that the amount of social, accessible or medium-priced housing built in the city has dropped dramatically in the last 25 years. They also point out that while the current, active stock of complete short-term rentals (an entire house or apartment) amounts to 9,000 residences, according to government statistics, there are more than 207,000 residences in the city uninhabited or abandoned.

The hosts claim that they positively impact the local economy, saying their properties support 63,000 direct or indirect jobs. They also highlight that for every peso spent on a short-term rental, visitors spend four pesos in the local economy, drawing this data from Estudio CONCANACO-Sinestesia (2025), Datos del IMPLAN (2024), and Oxford Economics (2021).

In response to the recent anti-gentrification protests, which targeted foreigners with angry rhetoric, the hosts emphasize that 70% of their clientele consists of Mexican visitors to CDMX.

Proposals presented by the pequeños anfitrones

On August 28, the pequeños anfitriones presented their five proposals to representatives of Xóchitl Bravo Espinosa, a legislator and the coordinator of the Morena Parliamentary group in the city’s Congress.

The proposals involve collaborating with the city’s tourism board to create a directory of local, independent businesses for their guests and developing a Good Neighbor guide to promote responsible tourism. They also propose more safety measures for guests, like information about what to do in an earthquake or other emergency.

They propose to provide free housing for health or emergency workers in case of a city emergency, as well as wanting the city to invest the 1.5% additional tax that they pay as short-term renters (short-term rentals pay 5% in hospitality taxes and hotels pay 3.5%) for local, small businesses.

But their most important ask is that the 50% restriction is removed for small hosts, the argument being that large real estate companies won’t be affected by the 50% restriction, but small home owners will.

What small hosts really want

In response to whether or not pequeños anfitriones would support limits of short-term rentals determined by neighborhood and need, or a limit per building, one of the main organizers, Mario Tegalia, said that he believes they would support any regulation set forth by the city, as long as the 50% occupancy restriction is lifted.

City officials, who have been holding public forums for the last month or so to address the concerns of residents regarding zoning, housing, gentrification and services, have said they will compile the data they have received, including these proposals. Then, they will form a plan for city zoning that will go to the city’s congress for debate. Government officials at the August 28th press conference said that a timeline has been set for two weeks for working groups to come up with an integrated proposal.

Lydia Carey is a freelance writer and translator based in Mexico City. She has published extensively both online and in print, sharing her insights about Mexico for over a decade. She lives a double life as a local tour guide and is the author of “Mexico City Streets: La Roma.” Follow her urban adventures on Instagram and see more of her work at mexicocitystreets.com.

A tragic accident in CDMX, the Kirk assassination and tariffs: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

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MND Staff

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September 11, 2025

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President Sheinbaum at the podium of her daily press conference — President Sheinbaum promised support and solidarity to the families who lost loved ones after a gas tanker exploded in Mexico City on Wednesday. (Saúl López Escorcia/Presidencia)

A tragedy in Mexico City. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. The plan to impose new tariffs on imports from China.

President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about those issues, among others, at her Thursday morning press conference.

Here is a recap of the president’s Sept. 11 mañanera.

Sheinbaum comments on CDMX tragedy

At the start of her press conference, Sheinbaum made brief remarks about the explosion of a gas tanker in Mexico City that had claimed eight lives as of Thursday afternoon.

She said that her administration has been working closely with the government of Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada in the wake of the “terrible event.”

“We are providing all the support that is needed. Our solidarity to all those families who have lost someone. Whatever is needed, we will be very attentive,” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum condemns assassination of Charlie Kirk

Sheinbaum also lamented the murder of conservative U.S. political activist and Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk, who was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

“We’re completely against any violence and particularly political violence,” she said.

“Therefore, our condemnation … of acts of this kind,” Sheinbaum said.

Mexico is no stranger to political violence. The 2024 electoral season was the most violent in modern Mexican history with more than 30 candidates and political aspirants murdered and scores of other killings related in one way or another to the June 2 elections.

In 1994, presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio was murdered in Tijuana while on the campaign trail.

Will China retaliate against Mexico’s proposed tariffs?

A reporter asked the president whether her government expects foreign countries, such as China, to retaliate against the new tariffs it is planning to impose on their exports to Mexico.

On Tuesday, Sheinbaum sent a bill to Congress that seeks approval to impose tariffs of 10% to 50% on a wide range of imports from countries with which Mexico doesn’t have trade agreements.

Sheinbaum proposes tariffs targeting 1,371 product categories including vehicles, apparel and electronics

On Thursday morning, she said that officials from her government were speaking with the ambassadors of such countries, which include China, South Korea, India and Thailand.

“We don’t want any conflict with any country,” Sheinbaum said.

“So we’re speaking with them, with the ambassador of China in Mexico, from whom I recently had the opportunity to receive his letter of credence, with South Korea,” she said.

“We’re explaining to them that it is a measure that has to do with the strengthening of our economy and Plan México,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the government’s ambitious industrial policy.

“What we want is to speak, without the need to cause any conflict,” she said.

The South China Morning Post reported on Thursday that China had “condemned Mexico’s plan to sharply raise import tariffs on automobiles and other goods from countries with which Mexico does not have trade agreements, calling the measures discriminatory and saying they were the result of outside pressure.”

Sheinbaum: Tariffs not aimed at putting Mexico in a better position ahead of USMCA review

A reporter asked the president whether the imposition of tariffs on countries with which Mexico doesn’t have trade agreements could “improve” Mexico’s position in trade negotiations with the United States. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the free trade pact that replaced NAFTA in 2020, is scheduled to be reviewed in 2026.

Sheinbaum said that her proposed tariffs are not aimed at improving Mexico’s negotiating position in talks with its North American trade partners.

Reporters raise their hands in the foreground as President Claudia Sheinbaum looks over the press pool from behind her press conference podium — Mexico’s new tariffs are designed to strengthen Mexico’s domestic industries rather than being a strategic choice ahead of next year’s USMCA review. (Saúl López Escorcia/Presidencia)

She highlighted that she was speaking about Plan México, import substitution and the “strengthening of national industry” before U.S. President Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

The plan to impose new tariffs is part of a “national project” and not related to the “the negotiations with the United States,” she asserted.

Sheinbaum rehearses ‘El Grito’

Sheinbaum told reporters that she had rehearsed her delivery of “El Grito,” a reenactment of Miguel Hidalgo’s original “Cry of Dolores,” which marked the start of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810.

“We rehearsed yesterday because it’s a very important act,” she said of “El Grito,” which Mexico’s sitting president delivers from a National Palace balcony on the night of Sept. 15 as a huge crowd listens and watches on from the Zócalo, Mexico City’s central square.

“First of all, it’s a commemoration that has been carried out in Mexico for many years, and secondly we celebrate independence,” Sheinbaum said.

“So, one has to assume [the duty] responsibly, well me, as president,” she said.

“… That’s why we rehearsed and concentrated on this act that is so important, so emotional and so fundamental,” Sheinbaum said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

3 wins in 5 days confirm Mexican cyclist Isaac del Toro’s star status

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MND Staff

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September 11, 2025

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Isaac del Toro raises his hands in the air to celebrate winning a race — Isaac del Toro raises his hands in victory after finishing first in the 197.6 km Coppa Sabatini in Peccioli, Italy, Thursday. (@ESPNCiclismo/X)

Mexican cyclist Isaac del Toro bulldozed to another win Thursday and has now earned laurels at three Italian one-day races inside of five days.

At the 197.6 km Coppa Sabatini in Peccioli, Italy, Del Toro wheeled away from two breakaway companions to finish first with a time of 4 hours, 46 minutes and 56 seconds.

crowd celebrating Isaac del Toro — Del Toro’s 12 victories so far this year have moved Mexican cycling to a place on the world stage and created a lot of fans in Mexico. (Cristina Espinosa Agular/Cuartoscuro)

The 21-year-old Baja California native, racing for UAE Emirates-XRG, outclassed Benjamin Thomas and Ben Granger, attacking on the final climb with 0.4 km to go and pulling away to win by 5 seconds and 8 seconds, respectively.

“I like racing here in Italy; the fans are very attentive and passionate about cycling,” Del Toro said. “I’m always happy to race here.”

Del Toro is being called a phenom after claiming 10 victories since his impressive second-place showing at the three-week-long Giro d’Italia that ended on June 1. He now ranks No. 4 in the world in ProCyclingStats’ Best Rider Rankings.

Cycling analysts see him fast-tracking toward the Rwanda world championships later this month and a potential showdown with teammate Tadej Pogačar in Africa. Pogačar, the world’s top-ranked cyclist, won the Tour de France in July and is only just now returning to competition.

Del Toro has been on a tear since taking a five-week break after the Giro d’Italia. He won three of five stages to finish first at the Tour of Austria in mid-July.

He then won three times in Spain — a one-day road cycling race in the Terres de l’Ebre; the one-day Circuito de Getxo; and the five-stage Vuelta a Burgos.

This week, “El Torito” completed an Italian hat trick by finishing first in the GP Industria & Artigianato on Sunday, the Giro della Toscana on Wednesday before his triumph at Thursday’s Coppa Sabatini. He won each in spectacular fashion.

In Sunday’s 196.3 km test, Del Toro burst out of the pack with 12 kilometers remaining, pulling away from defending champion Marc Hirschi and pre-race favorite Michael Storer. He chased down the leaders Christian Scaroni and Davide Piganzoli, passing them at the 300-meter mark and racing past the finish line first in a time of 4:32:47.

In Wednesday’s 189 km race, he launched a solo move with 27 km to go, pulling away from co-leader Storer and holding off all challenges from in front. Del Toro finished in 4:25:38, 15 seconds better than Storer.

And in Thursday’s Coppa Sabatini, Del Toro kicked into gear with 6 km remaining before powering past Thomas and Granger on the uphill drag to the finish line, denying Hirschi a three-peat.

Del Toro has 12 victories this year, and 15 since turning pro in January 2024.

With reports from Cycling News, Velo, Fox Sports and ESPN

Canelo’s Saturday showdown with undefeated Terence Crawford won’t be on free TV in Mexico

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MND Staff

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September 11, 2025

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Guadalajara native and four-belt boxing champion Canelo Álvarez will face off against Terence Crawford Saturday in a fight that will be streamed exclusively on Netflix. (Netflix)

In one of boxing’s most-anticipated matchups in recent years, Guadalajara native Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez will put his four super middleweight belts on the line Saturday night in Las Vegas against undefeated American Terence “Bud” Crawford.

But even as the fight carries the weight of history, the bulk of Álvarez’s fan base is feeling stung: For the first time in 16 years, one of the superstar’s fights will not be on free television in Mexico.

boxing celcration in ring — Canelo celebrates his 2023 victory in Zapopan, Jalisco, over Englishman John Ryder to retain his middleweight crown. He’ll put that title on the line on Saturday in Las Vegas against the undefeated Terence Crawford. (Cuartoscuro)

Instead, the bout will be streaming exclusively on Netflix, a landmark shift that signals the sport’s embrace of streaming platforms — but also means fans in Mexico will lose access to what had become a national ritual on Independence Day weekend.

Over the past few years, Álvarez — whose record of 63 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws includes 39 knockouts — has generally fought on the weekends closest to Cinco de Mayo and Día de la Independencia.

Usually, the fights were available only on pay-per-view services, but in Mexico, they were always shown on free TV.

Until now.

In statements to the Spanish-language boxing news website Izquierdazo, as reported by the sports news outlet Medio Tiempo, the ginger-haired, freckle-faced future Hall of Famer blamed the situation on “mismanagement.”

“In my contract, I always try to secure the rights to Mexico so people can enjoy them for free,” he said. “It was poor communication [this time], but let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Then again, for boxing fans in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere, the change can be seen in a positive light.

Unlike past fights buried behind expensive pay-per-view barriers, this blockbuster arrives on Netflix without an added fee, meaning many will get their first chance to watch Álvarez, who is expected to enter the ring around 9 p.m. Mexico City time on Saturday.

The fight itself is no small occasion.

For starters, Álvarez reclaimed his status as a four-belt (“undisputed”) champion with a May 3 victory over William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, shown here with World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaimán, blamed “miscommunication” for his upcoming title bout being shown only on Netflix. (Cuartoscuro.com)

Though he hasn’t won by knockout since Nov. 26, 2021, the savvy counter-puncher has famously never been knocked down in 67 pro fights and is 10-0 as a super middleweight (76.2 kilograms, or 168 pounds). Recent news reports have called him “the face of boxing for nearly two decades.”

At age 35, he will enter the bout against the 37-year-old Crawford as a moderate favorite. Crawford, who is one centimeter taller than the 172-cm Álvarez (5-foot-7) and has a 9-cm reach advantage, has a pro record of 41-0, with 31 wins by knockout.

And while Álvarez is ESPN’s No. 8 pound-for-pound fighter right now — from 2021-22, he was No. 1 for about 12 months — Crawford is an impressive No. 3 on the current list.

But he is moving up two weight classes and hasn’t fought since winning the WBA junior middleweight title in August 2024.

Beyond the matchup, the bout is being held not in an arena but at Allegiant Stadium, which is expected to reach or approach full capacity of 65,000, making it one of the largest boxing attendances in U.S. history and a record for Las Vegas boxing venues.

Álvarez showed up in Sin City this week in a familiar mix of spectacle and patriotism that comes with his September fights. Dressed in a sharp white suit, he thanked his countrymen:

“On these important dates for Mexico, thank you all and long live Mexico, cabrones,” he said, while also predicting that he’ll win by knockout.

With reports from ESPN.com, Medio Tiempo and Associated Press

Horrific gas tanker explosion in Mexico City claims 8 lives, injures 90

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MND Staff

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September 11, 2025

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gas tanker after explosion — The explosion occured after a gas tanker crashed and turned over on a crowded highway in the Iztapalapa borough of Mexico City. The accident killed at least eight people and injured dozens, including 21 people reported to be in critical condition. (Cuartoscuro.com)

A tanker carrying more than 13,000 gallons (49,500 liters) of liquified petroleum gas on a major highway in Mexico City crashed and exploded on Wednesday, killing eight people and injuring at least 90, many seriously.

By early afternoon Thursday, Mayor Clara Brugada had announced that three victims had died in addition to the five deaths reported after the accident, and that 67 remained hospitalized, according to the newspaper Reforma.

microbus after gas explosion — The explosion generated a shock wave that damaged 32 nearby vehicles, including this microbus. (Cuartoscuro.com)

CNN reported that the explosion generated a shock wave that damaged 32 nearby vehicles after which flames shot into the air and smoke billowed over the southern section of the capital.

Mayor Brugada declared an emergency as first responders sought to snuff out the flames with hoses and foam, while paramedics on scene attended to badly injured victims, 21 of whom were reported to be in critical condition.

Some victims were charred while others waited for help alongside the road with burns and torn clothing. One woman suffered burns on 98% of her body after she turned and covered up her 2-year-old granddaughter, protecting her from the flames.

“People whose entire bodies appeared to have been burned, some with tattered clothing melded onto skin, emerged from the flames,” the AP reported.

outside IMSS — Freinds and relatives wait Thursday outside the IMSS Zona 43 hospital where 12 of the burn victims were taken. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro.com)

Images shared on social media showed the moment of the explosion from several vantage points and people screaming as they ran from the scene in the borough of Iztapalapa.

Groups of neighbors ran toward the accident to help pull burn victims from the fire and get them to safety, according to the Associated Press.

In a social media post, President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences to families of those who died and thanked emergency teams for their work.

“We express our solidarity and support to the families of the … people who unfortunately passed away and to those injured,” she said, adding that the National Civil Protection Agency, the National Guard and the Defense Ministry had been ordered to assist in caring for those affected.

The incident occurred on a major highway linking Mexico City to the city of Puebla to the east. The roadway was reopened by Wednesday evening, authorities said.

Mexico City authorities were carrying out an investigation “to establish accountability and ensure comprehensive care for the victims and their families,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

#Mexico: Massive gas truck #explosion in Mexico City • FRANCE 24 English

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“Forensic experts … are on scene gathering evidence and collaborating with local and federal authorities to determine the cause of the accident,” it said.

The overturned gas tanker had the logo of the energy business Silza on its side, but a company official initially denied it was their vehicle.

According to the newspaper El Universal, Gas Silza belongs to Grupo Tomza, a Mexican business group with nearly 60 years of experience in marketing, importing, storing and transporting liquefied petroleum gas through 101 plants, five land terminals for imported gas, and two maritime terminals.

Late Wednesday, reports emerged that Silza didn’t have updated insurance paperwork required to transport gas. The Environment Ministry issued a statement saying the company’s application had been rejected.

On Thursday, the newspaper Reforma reported that Silza claimed it had activated three insurance policies to address the consequences of the accident.

With reports from Milenio, Infobae, The Associated Press, CNN, El Universal and Reforma

Navy seizes 1,600 kilos of cocaine off the coast of Guerrero

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MND Staff

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September 11, 2025

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Navy sailors stand guard next to packages of cocaine, displayed between two navy ships — The Navy confiscated more than a metric ton of cocaine off the coast of Guerrero, SEMAR announced Wednesday. (SEMAR)

The Mexican Navy on Wednesday announced that its personnel had seized around 1,600 kilograms of cocaine from a vessel on the open sea southwest of Acapulco, Guerrero.

The Ministry of the Navy (SEMAR) and other federal security authorities said in a statement that Navy personnel performing Coast Guard functions off Mexico’s Pacific coast seized 54 packages containing a total of 1,600 packages of cocaine.

Navy officials guard packages of cocaine displayed on a ship's helicopter landing pad at sea — The Navy spotted the smugglers during routine patrols of known drug trafficking routes, officials said. (SEMAR)

The cocaine-carrying vessel was located during “maritime and aerial patrols to maintain the rule of law,” according to the SEMAR statement.

Navy vessels and aircraft were monitoring known drug trafficking routes, the ministry said.

SEMAR said that the seizure was “part of the actions to prevent illicit substances reaching the streets.”

No arrests were reported. The confiscated cocaine was turned over to the “appropriate authority,” SEMAR said.

With the latest seizure, more than 48 metric tons of cocaine have now been confiscated since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office on Oct. 1, 2024, according to security authorities.

The confiscations of the drug have stopped around 3.2 billion “doses” of cocaine from reaching the “hands of young people,” SEMAR said.

It also said that the economic impact of the seizures on criminal groups was 371.8 billion pesos (US $20.06 billion).

Mexican cartels ship large quantities of narcotics, including cocaine, to the United States, the world’s largest market for illicit drugs.

In its 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment report, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said that “Colombia remains the primary source country for cocaine entering the United States, followed by Peru and Bolivia.

“Mexico-based cartels obtain multi-ton cocaine shipments from South America and smuggle it via sea, air, or overland to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean for subsequent movement into the United States,” the DEA said.

245 metric tons of drugs seized in 11 months

Earlier this week, federal Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said that authorities had seized 245 metric tons of drugs since the current government took office last October.

He told Sheinbaum’s Tuesday morning press conference that the amount included more than 3.6 million fentanyl pills.

García Harfuch also said that the Mexican Army and Navy have shut down 1,400 methamphetamine laboratories in the past 11 months.

“As a result, millions of doses of drugs have been kept off the streets, and hundreds of millions of pesos have been prevented from reaching organized crime,” he said.

The Mexican government has come under intense pressure from its U.S. counterpart to do more to combat drug cartels and stop the northward flow of narcotics.

So-called “fentanyl tariffs” that U.S. President Donald Trump imposed in March remain in effect. They target imports from Mexico that don’t comply with the rules of the USMCA free trade pact.

Mexico News Daily

Facing US pressure, Mexico to raise tariffs on Chinese cars to 50%

By

MND Staff

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September 11, 2025

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The tariffs would affect Chinese brands like Byd, Chirey and Changan, as well as brands that import models from China, such as Kia and General Motors. (Joshua Fernández/Unsplash)

Mexico’s tariff on cars imported from China and some other Asian countries will increase to 50% if President Claudia Sheinbaum’s tariff plan is approved by Congress.

Sheinbaum sent a legislative proposal to the lower house of Congress on Tuesday that aims to modify the Law on General Import and Export Taxes so that tariffs as high as 50% can be imposed on a wide range of imports from countries with which Mexico doesn’t have a free trade agreement.

Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard at AIFA airport — Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Wednesday shared more details about Mexico’s plan to institute new tariffs on a variety of products, including Chinese vehicles. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

The reform bill will almost certainly be approved as the ruling Morena party and its allies dominate both houses of Congress.

At an event at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport in México state on Wednesday, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that Mexico would increase the tariff on Chinese cars to the maximum level permitted by the World Trade Organization.

“They already have a tariff. What we’re going to do is raise it to the maximum allowed,” he said, referring to an existing 20% duty on cars made in China and other countries with which Mexico doesn’t have a free trade agreement, such as South Korea and India.

“… We’re going to take it higher, [to the level] the World Trade Organization allows us, which is up to 50%. Why? Because the prices at which they’re arriving to Mexico are below what we call reference prices,” Ebrard said.

“I’m going to explain that a little bit. On each product you have a reference price. When a product arrives to your country below the reference price, if it’s just one product, you do an anti-dumping investigation. A single product. But if they are a lot [of products], what do you do? You modify your tariff because if you don’t the national industry is at a disadvantage. So, for that reason, we’re taking that measure,” he said.

Ebrard said that the “main objective” of Sheinbaum’s tariff plan — which seeks to impose new tariffs on around 1,400 different products including some auto parts — is to “protect already established jobs.”

He also said it is aimed at “protecting Mexico’s strategic industries.”

“The Mexican automotive industry is 23% of national manufacturing. So we have to protect it. One of the ways to protect it is to increase the tariffs that these light vehicles pay,” Ebrard said.

Chinese cars have become very popular in Mexico

Sales in Mexico of vehicles made by Chinese automakers such as BYD — the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer — and Chirey have increased significantly in recent years. In fact, Mexico has become the top export market for Chinese vehicles.

Mexico also imports cars made in China by U.S. automakers such as General Motors and Ford.

Analysis: Chinese cars pour in to Mexico, rattling the USMCA

In 2024, more than 20% of new light vehicles purchased in Mexico were made in China, according to data from the national statistics agency INEGI. JAC, in a joint venture with a Mexican company, is the only Chinese automaker that currently makes cars in Mexico.

In addition to cars made in China, vehicles manufactured in countries such as South Korea and India will face a 50% duty when entering Mexico if Sheinbaum’s tariff proposal is approved by Congress. Cars made in Japan and Europe, which have free trade agreements with Mexico, would not be subject to the 50% tariff. Cars made in the United States and Canada can enter Mexico tariff-free thanks to the USMCA free trade pact, even as the U.S. collects tariffs on Mexican vehicles.

Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base, said on X that demand for Chinese cars in Mexico will increase in the short term due to the announcement of the 50% tariff, “which will increase their price.”

In a separate post, she wrote, “The tariffs on imports from countries with which Mexico doesn’t have a trade agreement have two objectives: 1) greater tax collection and 2) to get on well with [Donald] Trump.”

Increasing tariffs on China could help Mexico in its negotiations with the United States and Canada during next year’s review of the USMCA.

Still, Jorge Guajardo, a former Mexican ambassador to China who now works as an advisor on global risk, asserted that Sheinbaum’s proposed tariffs are not motivated by a desire to appease the United States.

A X post by Gabriela Siller reading "The imports that will be subject to tariffs in Mexico come from: China 🇨🇳 with 71.19% of the imports that will have tariffs, South Korea 🇰🇷 with 8.19%, India 🇮🇳 with 3.75%, Thailand 🇹🇭 with 3.35%, Taiwan 🇹🇼 with 2.52%, Indonesia 🇮🇩 with 2.35%, Bangladesh 🇧🇩 with 1.99%, Brazil 🇧🇷 with 1.62%, Cambodia 🇰🇭 with 1.24%, and Turkey 🇹🇷 with 1.12%.These countries in total account for 97.33% of the imported products to which the tariff will be increased. The weighted average tariff is estimated to be 33.96%." — The new tariffs mean that over 70% of Chinese imports will soon be subject to import duties, Banco Base economist Gabriela Siller said in a post on X. (X)

“These tariffs are in response to Mexican industry asking for them,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

“They have nothing to do with the U.S. It’s weird, but sometimes countries actually act in their own self interest. Who knew?”

‘A drastic change for the vehicle trade’

Guillermo Rosales, president of the Mexican Association of Automotive Distributors, said that the tariff decision by the Sheinbaum administration “represents a drastic change for the vehicle trade” in Mexico.

“As available inventories are depleted, prices would have to be adjusted. Competition in the domestic market will be limited, and consumers will have less choice,” he said.

“… The cost of purchasing electrified vehicles, plug-ins, hybrids and pure electrics will also rise,” Rosales said.

Citing analysts, the South China Morning Post reported Thursday that “Chinese carmakers will likely feel the sting of Mexico’s anticipated 50 per cent tariff on cars imported from Asia, but their competitive prices and global operations may offset some of the pain.”

“Chinese car prices are so competitive that even after taking into account the tariff increase, certain brands and models, especially the most affordable ones, are still profitable,” said James Chin, a professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

AT&T unlikely to participate in Mexico’s next network spectrum auction, Reuters reports

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MND Staff

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September 11, 2025

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The facade of the AT&T building in Zapopan, Jalisco — AT&T may skip Mexico's upcoming radio spectrum auction, inside sources told Reuters this week. (Shutterstock)

AT&T is unlikely to participate in Mexico’s next auction of frequencies used to provide network services, according to a company source that spoke to Reuters.

Reportedly, the move is motivated by the high costs associated with spectrum use and the conditions of the Mexican market, which limit competition and hinder profitability for foreign operators. The news comes a month after Bloomberg reported AT&T’s intention to exit the Mexican market.

“With the current spectrum costs it is very likely that this auction will again be left deserted, as happened in the last auction,” a source at AT&T said, adding it was also very unlikely AT&T itself would be interested in taking part.

The source said AT&T has repeatedly expressed its concerns to the Mexican government, but its demands have not been met so far. Mexico’s Economy and Finance Ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The upcoming auction, primarily focused on the radio spectrum for advanced services such as 5G, faces limited interest among established operators with a high probability that several blocks will again be left without bidders, similar to what occurred in 2021. At that time, most blocks were left unclaimed due to high prices, discouraging participation by major operators including AT&T.

The radio spectrum is the basic resource for high-quality mobile communications, but Mexico has some of the highest prices in the region. The overall cost of spectrum in Mexico includes initial payments for concessions and annual fees established by the Federal Rights Law, which represent up to 85% of the total cost. In contrast, the average for other Latin American countries is only around 20%.

In a possible telecom sector shake-up, AT&T may be leaving Mexico

The GSMA, a global trade association representing mobile operators, has estimated that if Mexico had lower costs, at least 5 million more people in the country would be connected to mobile telecommunications using 4G technology.

Due to the high costs, Telefónica returned all of its spectrum to the government in 2021, while AT&T returned part of its spectrum in 2022 and another part in 2023. This persistent issue prevents small players from consolidating their position as operators, causes medium-sized players like Telefónica and AT&T to return spectrum, and allows large players like Telcel parent company América Móvil (owned by billionaire Carlos Slim) to be the only ones who achieve profitability.

AT&T arrived in Mexico in 2014, when former President Enrique Peña Nieto opened the market to competition. AT&T first purchased Grupo Iusacell for US $2.5 billion from Mexican tycoon Ricardo Salinas Pliego, before acquiring Nextel Mexico’s operations for another US $1.9 billion. But despite investing more than US $10 billion in Mexico, AT&T hasn’t been able to challenge the dominance of Telcel, which holds 55% of the Mexican phone carrier market.

With reports from Reuters and La Política Online

Mexico City’s Indigenous neighborhoods that are still alive today

By

Andrea Fischer

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September 11, 2025

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Niñopa — From the ancient chinampería system to centuries-old religious complexes, Mexico City preserves some of its Pre-Columbian neighborhoods practically untouched. These are some of the most iconic. (Isaac Esquivel Monroy/Cuartoscuro)

When anthropologist Andrey Núñez was working on an analysis of language use in Mexico City with the University of the Cloister of Sor Juana (UCSJ) in 2018, he and colleagues visited a public school in the Milpa Alta borough of the capital. There, he noticed a remarkable thing; The children wrote graffiti on their desks in Náhuatl. “Juan es un xólotl,” one read. Juan is a little devil.

Náhuatl was the official language of the Mexica Empire, which reached its peak during the second half of the 15th century in present-day Mexico, and was dominant until the Spanish conquest in A.D. 1521. So, how come children speak this language in present-day Mexico City? Part of the reason is that the Mexican capital preserves some of its Pre-Columbian neighborhoods, centuries after these ancient civilizations fell.

Milpa Alta plantations (Milpa Alta)

Momoxca neighborhoods — For years, the Momoxcas joined the people of Xochimilco in their fight to defend their territories from the Mexica invasion in the Valley of Mexico. (Julio Barquera Alvarado/Wikimedia Commons)

According to the Institute of Statistics and Geography’s (INEGI) latest figures, nearly 40,000 Mexicans in Mexico City speak Náhuatl as their mother tongue today. As Núñez and his team found in the study, in boroughs like Milpa Alta, in the southeast of the capital, children learn Spanish in school, but speak to each other and their families in their native tongue.

This is a testament to their Pre-Columbian heritage. As the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI) documents, the Momoxcas inhabited these mountainous lands before the Conquest, and created strong commercial networks between the Valley of Mexico and present-day Morelos state. Their city-state, Malacachtépec Momoxco, was famous for its veneration of the surrounding hills, “a sacredness that many Milpaltenses [still] confer on the hills today.”

Barrio de San Juan (Xochimilco)

Niñopa figure — The cult of Niñopa is still one of the most representative religious celebrations of the Xochimilco borough. (Rodolfo Angulo/Cuartoscuro)

Religious syncretism is alive and present in most boroughs in Mexico City. Xochimilco features some of the best examples of how this cultural phenomenon combines the tradition of medieval Christianity and Mesoamerican roots, says UNAM anthropologist Andrés Medina Hernández. This phenomenon is crystallized in the Barrio de San Juan for the local veneration of the Niñopa. That being a sacred figurine that embodies the cult of child Huitzilopochtli and baby Jesus. Actually, per the Ministry of Culture, the word Niñopa comes from “Niño-Padre:” the “Father-Child,” alluding to the fact that baby Jesus is also God.

On Christmas Day and Día de la Candelaria, local people host parties exclusively for this sacred child — made of palo de colorín wood and carved in the 16th century — during which they offer him toys, traditional baby garments, candy and other treats Xochimilca children have enjoyed for centuries.

Cerro de la Estrella (Iztapalapa)

Once the birthplace of the god Huitzilopochtli, today Cerro de la Estrella in the Iztapalapa borough serves as the setting for the traditional Via Crucis performance during the Easter holidays. (Cuartoscuro)

A millennium ago, recalls the Institute of Historical Research (IIH) at UNAM, Cerro de la Estrella “was conceived as an image of the mythical hill, the origin of migrations and the birthplace of deities.” Originally referred to as Colhuacaltépetl, it was thought to be the birthplace of the Mexica God of War, Huitzilopochtli.

Today, the Iztapalapa borough is an industrial hub east of Mexico City. Its religious importance has not diminished, however. Local people perform a yearly Via Crucis representation during the Easter holidays in Cerro de la Estrella, commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion and death. Once again, the figure of Jesus seems to overlap with ancient representations of Huitzilopochtli, as deities that the inhabitants of Mexico City have historically worshipped.

Calzada de los Misterios (Gustavo A. Madero)

Millions of pilgrims from around the country visit the Basilica of Guadalupe, on Tepeyac Hill, to pay respects to the “Morenita,” an affectionate yet respectful nickname for the Virgin of Guadalupe. (Misael Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)

Formerly referred to as Calzada del Tepeyac, honoring the mountain that gives it its name, this was one of the main avenues that connected Tenochtitlán with an important religious site dedicated to the mother goddess, Tonantzin. From Náhuatl, meaning “our Mother,” this deity was later used by the Conquistadors to implant the Catholic faith in present-day Mexico, and turned her into the Virgin of Guadalupe. It is no coincidence that, today, Calzada de los Misterios leads to her sanctuary, receiving over 12 million pilgrims a year, per the government of Mexico City.

Zócalo (Cuauhtémoc)

We dwellers of Mexico City like to talk to our ancient gods. Despite our heavy Catholic/Colonial heritage, we often thank Tláloc for bountiful rainy seasons in pop culture. This, again, is no coincidence. Where the Zócalo stands today, once stood the most impressive religious compound in Mesoamerica. Consisting of two main pyramids, one dedicated to Huitzilopochtil and the other to Tláloc, the Templo Mayor complex was “the center of political and religious life of Mexican society,” notes INAH.

As both a civic and religious center, it had a Huey Tzompantli: Tenochtitlán’s great wall of skulls. This building was “intended to house the skulls of individuals sacrificed both in the Great Temple and in the ball court in various ceremonies,” according to Arqueología Mexicana. No wonder that when in the Zócalo, if you pay close attention, you can still hear the Creation god, Quetzalcóatl, slither by.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

Three homes, one heart: Returning to my Durango roots

By

Rocio Lucero

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September 11, 2025

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Women dancing at a party in Santa Rosa, Durango — Returning to her hometown in rural Durango after a lifetime away, Rocio Cadena discovered a modern, vibrant community in an area of Mexico she thought she'd moved on from. (Rocio Lucero)

They say home is where the heart is, and I agree — though in today’s globalized world, the idea of home feels more complicated than that. I spent my childhood in a rancho in Durango. Not a lone ranch house, but a small, rural village of about 50 homes and 150 people. At 12, I moved with my family to the Chicagoland area, where my parents and siblings still live. Now I’m based in Mexico City. If home is where the heart is, then mine is in three places.

The long road to Santa Rosa

There’s more to the state of Durango than might first appear. (Rocio Lucero)

In July, I returned to Santa Rosa, my first home, after four years away. My parents go back each summer, and my older brother brings his family, too. I wanted to coincide with them. The usually sleepy ranchería comes alive in June, July, and August, then again in December. Weddings, quinceañeras, horse races, coleaderas, cabalgatas — the calendar fills fast. But first, you have to get there.

And getting there is no small feat. The “convenient” route is flying into Durango’s capital city, then driving five to six hours, with the last three on rough roads. Sedans don’t stand a chance — if it’s rained recently, they’ll get stuck in the mud. A sturdy truck is the only way.

Another option is to drive from the U.S. My family did this for years after moving to Chicago. We’d load up the car, spend three days on the road, and stop at roadside motels on the U.S. side for two nights before finally crossing into Mexico through Ojinaga, Chihuahua. My brother still does this journey at least twice a year.

Then there’s the El Paso route, popular with many families. You fly into El Paso, cross into Ciudad Juárez, and catch the overnight bus — twelve hours to Santa María del Oro, the nearest town to Santa Rosa. From there, it’s still a two-hour drive. However you arrive, the journey is long, uncomfortable, and often exhausting. It usually takes days just to recover.

Rancho life, seen anew

But once there, it’s worth it. Santa Rosa is rugged and remote, tucked among mountains and desert. Durango’s semi-arid climate usually means scorching summers, but this year was different. Heavy rains had transformed the land. Rivers brimmed, creeks ran strong, and everywhere I looked, grass and vegetation replaced the usual muted desert tones. I was astonished — it was the greenest I’d ever seen.

While the popular image of Durango is arid desert, the state is much greener than that. (Rocio Lucero)

Returning as an adult, I see things I once overlooked. Most families here live off cattle and remittances. Horses and cows dominate the landscape. As a child, I never grasped how relentless life as a farmer really is. My father still raises cattle, and during my ten-day stay, I watched him work from dawn to dusk — feeding, vaccinating and guarding pastures. At 72, he still mounts his horse daily, looking after his herd like a true old-school cowboy-ranchero.

Another observation: some ranchos that were practically ghost towns 20 years ago are now thriving. La Noria, for example, used to have very few people. This summer, I was shocked to see it transformed — with arches welcoming visitors into the rancho and homes remodeled and freshly painted. My parents explained that many of those who left to work in the U.S. decades ago have now retired and chosen to return and spend their golden years here.

This pattern is common. Families may leave for 20 or 30 years, working tough jobs in the U.S., but if they’re documented, they come back in the summers and winters. That’s when rancherías like Santa Rosa come to life. Fiestas, cabalgatas, and weddings are often scheduled around these visits, so locals and returnees can celebrate together.

Even my U.S.-born nephews feel the pull. From seven-year-old Oscar Jr. to 18-year-old Christian, they ask to come back every year. Watching them embrace the land moved me. If I have kids one day, I’ll make sure they carry that same connection.

Beauty and risk

Modernity has reached Santa Rosa in its own way. Wifi arrived a few years ago, though electricity and cell service can still be unreliable. While I was there, the power went out for 24 hours, and reception was so spotty you could forget about depending on your phone. Unplugging is still easy — sometimes, unavoidable.

A crashed bus — Remote communities, difficult roads and inclement conditions make getting around rural Durango a challenge — if not outright dangerous. (El Sol de Durango)

But rancho life also comes with danger. In summer 2024, a family of three drowned while trying to cross a river swollen with rain. The father, confident he could make it across in his truck with his wife and three-month-old baby, didn’t survive. A couple of years ago, an older couple driving down from the U.S. veered off a cliff and died. A relative of mine recently fell from a horse and spent weeks in a coma. These tragedies sound like scenes from a particularly unlikely movie, but they’re part of everyday reality here.

Cultural norms can surprise outsiders, too. At parties, most men wear guns strapped to their belts, firing them in the air when a popular corrido plays. I don’t share this to glorify or condemn — it’s simply part of life in this corner of northern Mexico. With little to no police presence, it’s the Wild West in some ways. For many men, a gun is part of the outfit, along with the hat, boots, and belt.

Returning to my roots

Visiting Santa Rosa unlocks something new within me each time. My trip to the place where I spent my childhood evoked a myriad of emotions and themes — nostalgia, pride, joy, roots, heritage, and the concept of home(s).

When I was a college student at UIC-Chicago, I took a class on Latin American Studies. I had a distinguished Mexican-American professor, probably in his 40s or 50s, who shared an anecdote: growing up, he rejected his parents’ love of norteño music and leaned into hip-hop, wanting nothing to do with what his parents played. But as he got older, something shifted — he started craving the music of his childhood. He returned to his roots. I remember finding that story fascinating and wondering how it might relate to me later in life.

I was never ashamed of where I came from, but I did feel indifferent, more focused on bigger, better places. Leaving the village opened the world to me, and I wanted to see it all. That led me to study abroad in Italy during college and live in South Korea for two years in my 20s.

Now, though, I feel a fondness and pride for Durango that has taken years to surface but is now firmly rooted. Whenever I go to Garibaldi in Mexico City, I enjoy mariachi — but what I really crave is norteño music, especially old-school corridos.

I will always carry in my heart the place where I spent my childhood. In many ways, it completes the triangle of my life — Durango, Chicago, and Mexico City. Three homes that shaped me, each in its own way. And I’m already looking forward to returning to the first one, Santa Rosa, in December.

Rocio is a Mexican-American writer based in Mexico City. She was born and raised in a small village in Durango and moved to Chicago at age 12, a bicultural experience that shapes her lens on life in Mexico. She’s the founder of CDMX IYKYK, a newsletter for expats, digital nomads, and the Mexican diaspora, and Life of Leisure, a women’s wellness and spiritual community.