Friday, June 27, 2025

Customs agents strike slows operations in Mexico’s largest international trade port

By
MND Staff
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Workers strike at the port of Colima.
Manzanillo port resumed operations Friday following a weeklong customs labor dispute. (El rayo aduanero/X)

Order was restored and full operations resumed at the Pacific Coast port of Manzanillo on Friday, after authorities suppressed a labor strike that began Monday. 

National Guard troops, aided by federal security forces, secured the affected areas and removed striking customs employees who were blocking points of entry to the port. 

An unspecified number of strikers were apprehended, according to Reforma newspaper. Authorities did not provide details about the arrests or specify what charges the picketers might face.

Before dawn Friday, port authorities issued a statement saying the “demonstration that blocked access to Manzanillo Customs has concluded,” adding that operations were expected to resume at 6 a.m.

Authorities also urged all port users to remain alert for official communications. 

The port of Manzanillo, Colima, is Mexico’s top port by revenue and the second-largest by cargo volume.

Customs personnel initiated their protest on Monday morning, denouncing violations of their labor contract, accusing management of abuse and harassment. 

Omar Chávez, a customs employee, told local news outlet Origen Informativo that some employees were being forced to work 16-hour shifts while being denied overtime pay and lunch breaks.

Negotiations produced a quick agreement Monday afternoon, but management was almost immediately accused of failing to honor it, prompting an escalation of the strike.

In addition to blocking access points, strikers added new demands, including the removal of customs administrator Rodolfo Torres Chávez and the reinstatement of four employees allegedly fired for their actions Monday.

Aerial shot of Manzanillo port.
Manzanillo, Mexico’s top port by revenue, is vital for global trade. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

Torres has been the Manzanillo port administrator for just one month, replacing Mario Alberto Limas, who had been in charge from Jan. 16 to April 15. The Naval Ministry (SEMAR), which oversees all aspects of port development, administration and planning, did not provide a reason for the change.

Unnamed federal authorities cited by El Universal newspaper said Monday’s strike was prompted by the dismissal of five customs employees accused of corruption, but port authorities did not mention this in official communications.

SEMAR announced it will continue to monitor the situation to guarantee the security of port operations.

During the strike, port stakeholders were in constant communication with port authorities to mitigate the impact. Customs brokers advised transporters not to send import and export units to the port, while juggling schedules, waiving late fees and additional charges, and reassigning appointments even as dispatches and vessel operations continued. 

Miguel Ángel Landeros, president of the Mexican Foreign Trade Council (COMCE), said port administrators must take steps to prevent such situations from occurring.

“Foreign trade is the cornerstone of Mexico’s economy,” he said. “[Port security] is a matter of national security. … Even one day’s closure represents the loss of millions of pesos.”

COMCE said that as of Thursday 1,500 transportation operations had been impacted.

With reports from Reforma, Proceso, El Universal and El Economista

ProPublica: US looks to revoke visas of Mexican politicians with alleged cartel ties

By
MND Staff
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A US flag and visa
The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act allows visa bans for suspected drug collaborators. (Shutterstock)

The Trump administration has begun revoking U.S. visas for Mexican politicians it believes are linked to the drug trade, including high-profile members of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s ruling Morena party, according to a new ProPublica investigation.

The list of targets includes Mexican state governors and allies of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, signaling a sharp escalation in bilateral tensions.

Last weekend, Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila revealed her visa was canceled in recent weeks, as was the visa of her husband, Carlos Torres Torres, a member of Mexico’s lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, from 2006 to 2009.

According to longtime journalist Adela Navarro, editor-in-chief of Tijuana’s Zeta Weekly, the governor is “collateral damage” in a U.S. probe targeting her husband and her brother-in-law, Luis Alfonso Torres.

Navarro said in an interview on Radio Fórmula the two brothers are under investigation for their potential involvement in a case of stolen fuel that reportedly entered Mexico illegally from Texas.

“What we were told [by unnamed sources inside] the State Department was that she would be collateral damage. In the United States, they often do this by disabling the inner circle of the person of interest,” the journalist said. “The ones they are investigating are Carlos Torres and his brother.”

Zeta Weekly in Tijuana reported that Baja California Governor Ávila’s visa revocation was “collateral damage” in a U.S. investigation into her husband’s alleged fuel smuggling activity. (Carlos Torres/Facebook)

The question that persists in Mexico, “particularly among the overwhelming Morena wing,” Navarro wrote in a piece for Zeta Weekly, “is whether President Sheinbaum will save the reputation of [Governor Ávila] by interceding with the U.S. government to have her B1/B2 tourist visa reactivated.”

Torres’ visa was revoked at the Tijuana border crossing about three weeks ago, according to Zeta Weekly, with the governor notified later “via consular service” that hers was being revoked, too.

The ProPublica report, published Thursday, said the “Trump administration has begun to impose travel restrictions and other sanctions on prominent Mexican politicians whom it believes are linked to drug corruption,” information the report attributed to U.S. officials.

The  report added: “U.S. officials said they expect more Mexicans to be targeted as the administration works through a list of several dozen political figures who have been identified by law enforcement and intelligence agencies as having ties to the drug trade.”

All of this coincides with a report released Thursday by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in which an entity codenamed Operation Top Fuel (Liquid Death) links Mexican cartels to a multibillion-dollar fuel theft ring.

The 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment notes that criminal organizations like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel smuggle stolen Pemex fuel to finance narcotics operations.

A Navy seaman stands guard in front of a tanker ship
A Navy seaman stands guard after a fuel smuggling bust in Tamaulipas. Fuel smuggling, known as huachicol in Mexico, is a major income source for organized crime. (SEMAR)

“This black-market petroleum smuggling operation is the primary means by which the Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) finances its networks,” the DEA wrote.

According to ProPublica, the operation that snagged Ávila and Torres revives a 2019 DEA list of “several dozen” Mexican officials compiled after López Obrador began shutting down Mexico’s cooperation with the U.S. in counterdrug programs.

Seeking to “identify Mexican government figures who could be criminally prosecuted for aiding drug traffickers,” the earlier effort led to the 2019 indictment and 2024 conviction of ex-Security Chief Genaro García Luna.

As for Ávila, opposition lawmakers such as National Action Party (PAN) Deputy Federico Döring have urged her to “step down” and “use that time to clarify what she needs to clarify with U.S. authorities.”

“Why? What argument do you have?” Sheinbaum countered.

Ávila denied having foreign bank accounts — “they don’t exist,” she said — but remained silent on her husband’s finances. The U.S. Embassy declined to comment, citing visa privacy rules.

The White House initiative invokes Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allowing visa bans for suspected drug collaborators. ProPublica reported Treasury sanctions freezing U.S. assets could follow.

The operation is being overseen by White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and Deputy Homeland Security Adviser Anthony Salisbury, noted ProPublica.

Former Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhaan warned in the ProPublica report that the crackdown risks inflaming tensions.

“It gives [Sheinbaum] — a nationalistic president with a very chauvinistic party behind her — a perfect excuse to say that everything bad that’s happening in Mexico … is because of U.S. imperialism,” he said.

With reports from Proceso, El Sol de México, LatinUS, Radio Fórmula and Zeta Tijuana

Pacific hurricane season is officially underway. Are you prepared?

By
MND Staff
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Image of hurricane.
Though no storms are forecast yet, officials are stressing readiness as hurricane season opens.(Shutterstock)

Pacific hurricane season has officially begun and though no tropical cyclones are currently predicted, authorities warned Pacific coastal residents to stay informed and be ready for the coming storms.

The 2025 hurricane season began on May 15 in the northeast Pacific Ocean. The season will kick off June 1 in the Atlantic Ocean. On both coasts, the season ends on November 30. 

Flooding in Acapulco after Tropical Storm John
Mexico hopes to avoid the large-scale disaster of past storms, like Hurricane John last year in Acapulco. (Cuartoscuro)

Although these dates are statistically established, authorities warn that tropical cyclones can form before or after this period, and urge the public to stay informed and prepared.

Authorities announced the start of hurricane season to raise awareness in vulnerable communities and to boost prevention strategies. Between May and August, state and municipal authorities intensify Civil Protection efforts, including information campaigns, drills, preventive evacuations and river dredging to mitigate the risk of flooding.

Hurricane preparation

According to Conagua and Civil Protection, the best defense against hurricanes is early preparation. Recommendations include:

  • Inspecting your roof and windows for leaks before storms develop
  • Have a hurricane kit with first aid supplies, a radio with regularly charged batteries and important documents stored in a water-proof bag.
  • Know your evacuation routes and establish family meet-up points.
  • Follow official sources like SMN and Conagua for information and avoid spreading rumors.

Which states are the most vulnerable to hurricanes?

Coastal states are most vulnerable to hurricanes, while states in central Mexico are somewhat sheltered behind mountain slopes — the Sierra Madres act as natural barriers that weaken the winds and disrupt the circulation of a cyclone. Winds can unleash their full power in flat areas.

Areas with low-income communities are particularly exposed. According to weather news outlet Meteored, over 48% of Mexican municipalities live in poverty, which is where disasters commonly occur, especially in the southern states. Vulnerability is further compounded by heavy rainfall, deterioration of watersheds, deforestation and environmental degradation.

 On average, tropical cyclones account for 86.5% of the annual disaster costs in Mexico, mainly due to the large quantities of water they produce. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active on record, with 30 named storms, prompting weather forecasters to use Greek letters to name additional systems.

 With reports from Vanguardia and El Sol de la Laguna

New report ranks Mexico as one of the best countries for retirees

By
MND Staff
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Sunset in San Miguel de Allende
Retirees praise Mexico, and towns like San Miguel de Allende (pictured) for affordability, natural beauty and friendly locals. (Lauren King/Unsplash)

In news that will come as no surprise to retirees in Mexico, International Living has rated the country as one of the best places in the world to retire.

Mexico ranked fourth in the world among retirement destinations, according to the Global Retirement Index 2025. 

The report, conducted by research company Mercer, analyzed over 40 countries to determine which offer the best retirement conditions. Mexico stands out as a country combining a low cost of living, good access to health care, a pleasant climate and ease of integration into local communities.

The malecón in Chapala, one of Mexico's popular destinations for retirees.
Scenic view of The Malecón in Chapala, a top retirement destination in Mexico.

“Mexico is a vibrant and diverse retirement destination,” the report says. “The country combines affordability, culture, and warm communities, making it a perennial favorite for North American expats.”

The Index draws from first-hand experiences of Mercer’s correspondents and contributors who have lived in these retirement destinations for years. “They’re not tourists or casual observers,” the report says. “They’re embedded in the communities they report on.”

The results are based on 43 indicators grouped into four major categories:

  1. Financial security, which considers access to pensions, social security and savings capacity.
  2. Health, which includes quality of medical care, life expectancy and healthcare infrastructure.
  3. Quality of life, which looks into the environment, basic services and water and air quality.
  4. Personal well-being, which involves happiness, satisfaction, access to community and social life.

Mexico’s results highlight the wide array of destinations for expats to choose from. The report mentions destinations like the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende, the cities of Guanajuato and Querétaro, both up-and-coming wine and gourmet destinations, the sandy beaches of the Riviera Maya, or the towns around Lake Chapala.

Addressing safety concerns, Mexico correspondent Bel Woodhouse said the country is a safe and rewarding retirement destination “provided you use common sense.”

For Woodhouse, Mexico has allowed her to live her dream life. 

“Overall, Mexico ticks all the boxes for me. The abundant natural beauty, warm and friendly people, amazing food, healthier lifestyle, and low cost of living allow me to live the life I always dreamed of,” Woodhouse said. 

Besides Mexico, the top 10 of the best countries to retire include Panamá (No. 1) Portugal (No. 2), Costa Rica (No. 3), Francia (No. 5), Spain (No. 6) Malaysia (No. 7), Greece (No. 8), Italy (No. 9) and Thailand (No. 10). 

Mexico News Daily

Club Botánico Rosa María: inside Oaxaca city’s cannabis oasis

By
Anna Bruce
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A giant cannabis tree outside overtaking the facade of a stone and brick building in Oaxaca city, Mexico. The tree is as tall as the building and towers over its balconies.
Club Botánico Rosa María in Oaxaca city is a space for all cannabis afficionados. (All photos by Anna Bruce)

Club Botánico Rosa María is a beautiful new space in Oaxaca city that celebrates all things cannabis. The club for registered users in downtown Oaxaca city is aimed at adults seeking a safe and peaceful space to exercise their right to consume cannabis and access current information about the plant in Mexico. Here, you can learn about the uses, history and benefits of the plant, as well as have a space to enjoy it in its various forms.

Walking in through reception, you walk by beautiful murals and a pool table and into an open space with tables and chairs in the shade of towering cannabis plants. This is where I met with club founder and cannabis expert Daniel Ramírez López, part of the agrifood consultancy firm Coagro. Although I’m not much of a weed smoker myself, Daniel found all kinds of products that were more to my taste, including a cannabis-infused mezcal.

A courtyard in Oaxaca city with seating. The courtyard has stone arches in the distance.
A common space at Club Botánico Rosa María.

Oaxaca’s most iconic drink has a long history of being infused or distilled with cannabis, often for healing, where the liquid is used topically to soothe aches and pains. Beyond recreational consumption, cannabis has medicinal uses and industrial uses in fibers and oils. 

The history of cannabis in Mexico

Endemic to Asia, the plant has been used for thousands of years. It was introduced to the Americas by European colonizers.

Since around the mid-19th century, the Pharmaceutical Society of Mexico had classified cannabis as a plant with medicinal uses, with doctors prescribing the plant’s sativa species as a diuretic while the indica species, also known as Rosa María, was attributed calming and hypnotic properties. 

By the end of the 19th century, Mexicans’ perception of cannabis had changed. People began to consider it harmful, even dangerous. At a federal level, the Health Code of 1892 established that it could only be sold by apothecaries and pharmacists. By the 1920s, marijuana was a prohibited substance nationwide.

In 2017, then-President Enrique Peña Nieto issued a decree to regulate cannabis. His decree removed cannabis from the list of prohibited substances in the General Health Law and placed it in a different category, defining it as having “some therapeutic value.” These changes legalized medicinal and industrial cannabis with less than 1% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the Federal Penal Code.

Seated man stirs a drink
Daniel Ramírez.

Article 290 of this decree states that products containing cannabis derivatives in concentrations of 1% or less of THC and that have broad industrial uses may be marketed, exported and imported in compliance with the requirements established by health regulations. In accordance with Article 290, the Ministry of Health granted authorization to import cannabis, exclusively to those with a license.

A final paragraph added to Article 198 of the Federal Penal Code stipulates that cannabis cultivation cannot be penalized when it is carried out for medical and scientific purposes.

Daniel explains that in 2018, Mexico’s Supreme Court reviewed the case, leading to further concessions allowing for cannabis use. On June 28 2021, the topic of the recreational use of marijuana was raised in the Supreme Court. This led to the decision that “it is unconstitutional to prohibit consumption and other activities related to cannabis.” The court has repeatedly ordered Congress to regulate recreational consumption, but the body has failed to do so for several years.

According to Ramírez, it is now possible for all citizens to submit a request to the Ministry of Health for a recreational use permit.” Unfortunately, he says, “this permit is often denied under bureaucratic and administrative pretexts.”

A local cannabis-infused beer available at Rosa María.

Cannabis puts down roots in Oaxaca

In accordance with the national health regulator Cofepris, individuals over 18 years of age may now possess up to 28 grams of cannabis and cultivate up to six plants on their property. In 2022, cannabis publication Leafly reported that Oaxaca city became the first municipality in Mexico to explicitly permit the consumption of cannabis in broad daylight, although consumers were advised to stay away from public areas.

In 2022, 26 Oaxaca Indigenous communities received permits to grow and process cannabis for medicinal purposes. Oaxaca Association of Indigenous Cannabis Producers (Aipco) President Roberto Carlos Cruz Gómez explains that Oaxaca state has a “geographical location that allows for the best conditions for the cultivation of this plant.” 

A home for cannabis aficionados in Oaxaca city

Despite official statements in support of cannabis use, the plant remains in a legal gray area, which can lead to unpredictable prices and local reactions. This makes the Rosa María club an oasis for safe cannabis exploration. Here, visitors can learn the best way to buy and use the plant from experts sharing their knowledge in a safe environment. 

On my first visit to the club, Daniel Ramírez showed me the numerous rooms around Rosa María’s beautiful courtyard, including a kitchen, gaming room and small experiential grow space. There’s also a museum displaying extensive samples of the plant, different methods of processing and consuming it and books and photos on the history of cannabis.

jars with cured marijuana being sold at a cannabis club in Oaxaca city
Some of the cannabis varieties available for purchase at Rosa María.

The club also offers various courses. These include one on how to grow cannabis plants, with a new topic each week — from seed selection to harvesting and final curing. Here you can learn about cannabis cultivation, including soil preparation and grow light setup. They also teach you the local rules and regulations related to cannabis cultivation so that you can grow responsibly and legally. 

Other activities include learning to make paper from cannabis fibers, billiards competitions and excursions to meet with growers. 

Rosa María is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m. Guests must be 18 or older, and legal identification is required to enter.

Anna Bruce is an award-winning British photojournalist based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Just some of the media outlets she has worked with include Vice, The Financial Times, Time Out, Huffington Post, The Times of London, the BBC and Sony TV. Find out more about her work at her website or visit her on social media on Instagram or on Facebook.

Sheinbaum and Canadian PM discuss trade priorities as USMCA review timeline accelerates

By
MND Staff
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Two photos, one of Mexican President Sheinbaum and one of Canada PM Mark Carney
President Sheinbaum congratulated Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on his recent electoral victory before moving on to the topic of trade. (Archive. Mark J. Carney/X)

President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed the importance of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) during a phone conversation on Thursday.

The chat occurred as talks related to a mandated review of the USMCA appear set to begin ahead of schedule.

On Tuesday, Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said he expected the USMCA review process to begin in the second half of 2025. The review — scheduled for July 2026 — could lead to renegotiations, extensions or even withdrawal.

In their phone conversation, Carney and Sheinbaum confirmed their commitment to the USMCA, which went into effect on July 1, 2020, agreeing that it has boosted the competitiveness of the three North American countries.

In a press release, Carney’s office said the two leaders discussed “building on the strong trade relationship between the two countries,” grounded in the USMCA, and “the imperative to strengthen their respective economies against future shocks.”

The Mexican government said in a social media post that the two leaders also discussed priority issues in their bilateral relationship, including the continuity and strengthening of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

Both leaders tasked their senior officials to begin working to find opportunities to deepen bilateral relations. They also agreed to remain in close contact.

Sheinbaum initiated the phone call by congratulating Carney for his April 28 election victory. His Cabinet was sworn into office on May 13.

Carney, the governor of Canada’s central bank from 2008-2013 and governor of the Bank of England from 2013-2020, met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on May 6.

Positive outlook on USMCA review prospects

In discussing the early start to the USMCA review, Ebrard said the accelerated timeline aligns with the U.S. government’s focus on trade negotiations over the next three months, adding that it could be advantageous for Mexico.

Speaking at a forum hosted by Mexico’s Employers Confederation this week, Ebrard said early talks would provide greater clarity on Mexico’s position within the global trade landscape.

“The reality [of global economics] is pushing us toward deeper regional integration,” he said. “Mexico and Canada are indispensable [to the United States] in various areas, particularly if the goal is to remain competitive against Asia.”

Economy Minister Ebrard
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard speaks at a recent press conference. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

A day later, Ebrard reiterated this belief, saying that early review would serve to reduce uncertainty among investors and consumers.

The USMCA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement that had governed trade among Mexico, Canada and the United States since 1994. The continuity of USMCA came into question following Trump’s May 6  remarks Trump in which he described it as a “transitional” arrangement that he intends to renegotiate “very soon.”

Sheinbaum dismissed speculation the deal might be dismantled, however, voicing confidence that the United States would see the value in maintaining it.

With reports from El Economista and El Financiero

What foods would disappear if Mexico banned synthetic food dyes?

By
Bethany Platanella
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Mexico is bright and colorful, and synthetic dyes make that true for its food too. What would Mexican cuisine look like without them? (Skoot13 / CC BY SA 3.0)

Food policy in the U.S. is about to get a colorful shakeup: Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced a plan to eliminate eight synthetic, petroleum-based food dyes from the U.S. food supply by the end of 2026. This follows the FDA’s recent ban on FD&C Red No. 3, which took effect on January 15. 

While these changes are happening in the U.S., it got me thinking: If Mexico were to follow suit, how would such a ban affect the rainbow of snacks in stores and markets, and the elaborate piñatas at children’s birthday parties?

Synthetic food dyes are in many traditional Mexican sweets, such as obleas.

The colorful culprits

Throughout much of the world, food has become as much about visual pleasure as taste. Color is an easy way to captivate a hungry patron’s attention, which is why synthetic food dyes have played such a big role in the food industry. 

The first synthetic food dye dates back to the 1850s with English chemist William Henry Perkin’s discovery of mauveine. While it revolutionized the fashion industry, this purple hue also snuck itself into sweets under the names of violet paste, chrome violet and Perkin’s violet. Although mauveine eventually disappeared from our plates, the use of synthetic colorings in food became widespread.

Today, these nine synthetic food dyes are linked by some researchers to serious health issues, from childhood hyperactivity and behavioral problems to thyroid disruption and cancer risks.

  • FD&C Red No. 40
  • FD&C Yellow No. 5
  • FD&C Yellow No. 6
  • FD&C Blue No. 1
  • FD&C Blue No. 2
  • FD&C Green No. 3
  • Orange B
  • Citrus Red No. 2
  • FD&C Red No. 3 (already banned in the U.S.)
Synthetic food colorings are often used in at-home Mexican baking. (Larry Jacobsen / CC BY 2.0)

While the U.S. is just now moving to restrict synthetic food dyes, many countries were ahead of the curve for years. Norway and Iceland banned Red No. 40 (Allura Red) in food products long ago. Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Austria have also banned or heavily restricted certain synthetic food colorings such as Yellow No. 5 and Red No. 40. Since 2010, the European Union has required foods containing certain synthetic dyes to carry a warning label stating they “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

Mexico, meanwhile, operates in a colorful middle ground. Most synthetic food dyes are still permitted here, though with varying labeling requirements. Some major players like Mondelēz have already dropped Red No. 3 from their Mexican lineup, but we haven’t seen a comprehensive ban materialize… yet.

A technicolor tour of Mexican treats

Imagine Mexico without its technicolor treats. What would botana carts look like? Picnics in the park? Grocery store checkouts? Disorienting, to say the least.

Say goodbye to those radioactive-looking gomitas that stain your lips for hours. Gone would be the chance to suck on a mouth-puckering Pulparindo or Lucas candy. Even the rainbow-hued paletas that make for perfect Instagram shots couldn’t escape. All would need serious makeovers without Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5.

Salty snacks wouldn’t get off easily either. That suspicious orange dust coating your fingers after a bag of cheese puffs? Yellow No. 6. The blazing red powder that makes Takis so attractive? Red No. 40. Even Sabritas and Barcel products would need to find new ways to stay on shelves.

In short, the following bites would be in serious danger of disappearance: 

Candies: Pulparindots, Lucas, Rockaleta, Vero

Snacks: Flavored Sabritas chips, Takis, Cheetos, several brands of cacahuates japoneses

Beverages:  Sodas like Jarritos, powdered drink mixes, including Tang

Baked Goods: Panes dulces like pink-and-yellow conchas, polvorones de colores, merengues

A more natural future?

If Mexico followed the United States’ lead, it would join a growing club of countries that have already taken action against synthetic food colorings. The transformation wouldn’t just be technical: it would encourage a full marketing overhaul, finding new ways to meet consumer expectations and reinvent how traditional treats should look in a new, dye-free era.

The good news? There are natural alternatives waiting in the wings. Carotenoids from carrots and marigolds can provide yellows, oranges and reds. Anthocyanins from berries offer reds, purples and blues. There’s chlorophyll from plants for greens, turmeric for yellows and betalains from beets for a perfectly pink icing on your concha. Companies like Nestlé have already started using spirulina and beetroot extract in other markets, proving that nature can be just as colorful as a chemistry lab.

Perhaps the adjustment period would be challenging at first. Imagine kids’ faces when they bite into their favorite snack only to find it’s a slightly different shade of nuclear red. But in the long run, a Mexico with more naturally colored foods might be a brighter place indeed — even if the colors themselves are slightly muted.

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.

Proposed US remittance tax is unconstitutional, Sheinbaum says: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum at the podium of her morning press conference
President Sheinbaum said that a U.S. remittance tax would result in double taxation for Mexican earners in the U.S. — which she claimed would be unconstitutional. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)

The United States’ proposed tax on remittances, the construction of a new passenger railroad in the north of Mexico and a recent highway robbery were among the issues President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her Thursday morning press conference.

Here is a recap of the president’s May 15 mañanera.

Sheinbaum: A tax on remittances is ‘unconstitutional’

Sheinbaum reiterated that her government doesn’t agree with the legislative proposal in the United States to impose a 5% tax on remittances sent out of the country by non-citizen immigrants.

“It’s even unconstitutional in the United States because a double tax would be charged,” she said without providing more specific arguments to support her claim.

“… The Mexicans who live in the United States already pay tax,” Sheinbaum said.

“So the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mexico’s ambassador in the United States are talking to [U.S.] lawmakers, presenting all the arguments [against the proposal],” she said.

Hands push dollars under a bank sill
The remittance tax would be a blow to Mexicans in the U.S. who send millions of remittance payments home every year. (Shutterstock)

Sheinbaum highlighted that the proposed tax — outlined in the Republican Party’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” — would affect many countries apart from Mexico, including India and other Latin American nations.

“So we’re also speaking with the representation of those countries in the United States in order to be able to present [a common argument] to members of Congress that it’s an unacceptable measure,” she said.

Sheinbaum noted that the Mexican Senate has already expressed its opposition to the proposal, which could face a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives next week, and said that her government suggested that a group of Senators travel to the United States to speak with U.S. lawmakers.

“This is an injustice,” she told reporters.

“Apart from being unconstitutional, how is it possible that they want to charge Mexicans who send their remittances [home] … when they already pay taxes? … It’s a tax on those who have the least. … They should collect taxes from those at the top, not from those at the bottom,” Sheinbaum said.

“… Our objective is that … they don’t approve taxes on remittances. … We’re going to do everything that is necessary and speak with the [U.S.] Department of Treasury, the finance minister is already seeking this call,” she said.

Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo rail project is ‘very important,’ says Sheinbaum 

A reporter mentioned that the “initial” funding for the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo passenger train line has been approved, and asked the president for additional information about the project.

Sheinbaum first noted that a new passenger railroad will in fact run all the way from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo, a city on the Tamaulipas-Texas border that is often considered “the customs capital of Latin America.”

“It’s the Gulf of Mexico Train,” she said.

“… The military engineers are building [the line] from Mexico City to Querétaro,” Sheinbaum said, adding that a tendering process will be carried out to find a private company to build a connecting railroad from Querétaro to Irapuato, Guanajuato.

Nuevo Laredo border with texas
The planned railway would connect the industrial center of Saltillo with the “customs capital” of Nuevo Laredo on the border with Texas. (Gabriela Pérez Montiel/Cuartoscuro)

She said that a tendering process will also be carried out this year to find a company to build the line from Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila state, to Nuevo Laredo.

“And we will continue to build over [the next] six years to achieve the Mexico City-Nuevo Laredo [railroad],” Sheinbaum said.

She said that the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo project is “very important because there is a lot of movement from Coahuila to Nuevo Laredo and from Coahuila to Monterrey.”

“In addition it will be a scenic train [trip] because of the mountains of that area, it’s an extremely beautiful landscape,” Sheinbaum said.

The federal government said last month that construction of the Querétaro-Irapuato and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo passenger railroads would commence in July and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Los Ángeles Azules get their instruments back

Three days after the Mexican cumbia group Los Ángeles Azules revealed that a vehicle transporting their instruments and audio equipment was stolen at what they called a “fake checkpoint” on the Mexico City-Puebla highway last Friday, Sheinbaum acknowledged that the instruments were found — in the municipality of San Martín Texmelucan, known as a fuel theft hub.

She also said that the commander of the National Guard, General Hernán Cortés, had “established contact with Los Ángeles Azules personnel” to find out exactly what happened and to obtain information to prevent similar incidents in the same area.

Sheinbaum said that a “special operation” is now underway in the area where the Los Ángeles Azules’ vehicle was stolen.

She said that “practically all the musical instruments” in the vehicle “appeared,” and stressed that an investigation to detain those responsible for the crime is ongoing.

The robbery occurred at kilometer 61 on the Mexico City-Puebla highway, located in the municipality of Santa Rita Tlahuapan, Puebla.

TV Azteca reported this week that the Mexico City-Puebla highway is “shaping up to be one of the most unsafe roads in the country in 2025, with a high rate of robberies that mainly affect truckers.”

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

Sheinbaum announces 10% pay increase for teachers as unions march in Mexico City

By
MND Staff
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13
Teachers march down Reforma Avenue in Mexico City with a banner reading "Huelga Nacional"
Members of the CNTE, one of Mexico's two largest teachers' unions, marched down Reforma Avenue on Thursday to demand the repeal of past educational reforms and better wages, among other measures. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

As teachers across Mexico celebrated el Día del Maestro (Teachers’ Day), President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a 9% pay increase retroactive to Jan. 1 with an additional 1% boost starting Sept. 1. The move came amid a march organized by one of  Mexico’s largest teachers unions in Mexico City.

Sheinbaum said she regretted not being able to offer a higher pay raise, but noted the across-the-board increase represents 36 billion pesos (more than US $1.8 billion). The increase is similar to the pay bump teachers received last year.

The president also said teachers’ contracts would include an additional week of vacation.

“Since we adjusted the school calendar, [teachers] barely get vacation time,” she said, acknowledging that they often work after the school year ends, and return a week or so before the school year starts.

Sheinbaum also confirmed she was freezing the legal minimum retirement age for teachers — 56 for women and 58 for men. Earlier this year, Congress was considering a bill introduced by the president that would have gradually raised the legal minimum retirement age.

At the same time, the dissident CNTE teachers union staged a large march in Mexico City that snarled midday traffic in the capital. Police rerouted traffic in the Historic Center in an attempt to limit commuters’ inconvenience.

Sheinbaum presents a teachers award to a woman in a blue dress
As teachers’ unions protested in the streets, Sheinbaum presented awards to career teachers with 30 or 40 years working in public education. (Presidencia)

CNTE members — primarily from the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Mexico City — started gathering at the iconic Angel of Independence monument on Reforma Avenue around 8 a.m., beginning their march before 11 and arriving at the Plaza de la Constitución in front of the National Palace just over two hours later.

CNTE leaders are demanding a larger pay increase than was offered, better retirement benefits, bigger budgets for rural schools and the reinstatement of teachers fired after the controversial 2013 education reform.

Shortly after arriving in the Zócalo, the teachers began to pitch tents in the plaza and along adjacent streets while calling for national strikes. CNTE’s strike threats in March appear to have prompted Sheinbaum to withdraw legislation that would have gradually increased the mandatory retirement age.

Pedro Hernández, CNTE spokesman in Mexico City, said more dissident teachers would be arriving in coming days to join the protest on the streets of the capital.

“We have no option but to strike, because seven years of talks with this administration and the previous one have failed to satisfy our concerns about our pension plan,” Yenny Pérez, leader of the CNTE union in Oaxaca, said.

While the tent city expanded beyond the Zócalo just two blocks away, Sheinbaum was feting teachers at the Education Ministry and handing out the prestigious Maestro Manuel Altamirano and Maestro Rafael Ramírez awards. The former is for 30 years of service, the latter for teachers with 40 years on the job.

With reports from Reforma, El Financiero, Uno TV and Infobae

National bank cuts interest rates 50 basis points to 8.5%

By
MND Staff
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0
People line up outside the Bank of Mexico, an ornate art deco building
Stable inflation and a strong exchange rate were among the reasons the Bank of Mexico's governing board considered in its interest rate decision. (Moisès Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)

The Bank of Mexico’s key interest rate will fall to 8.50% after the central bank’s governing board unanimously supported a third successive 50-basis-point cut on Thursday.

The five members of the board voted in favor of the cut despite an uptick in inflation in April.

With the annual headline inflation rate still within the Bank of Mexico’s 2%-4% target range, the market was anticipating the board’s latest decision.

The 8.50% benchmark rate — the lowest rate in almost three years — will take effect this Friday. The latest cut comes after 50-basis-point reductions in February and March.

The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) said in a statement that the governing board “took into account the behavior of the [USD:MXN] exchange rate, the weakness of economic activity and the possible impact of changes in trade policies worldwide” when assessing whether to adjust the benchmark interest rate.

“Considering the current inflationary outlook and the prevailing level of monetary restriction, with the presence of all its members, the Board decided unanimously to lower the target for the overnight interbank interest rate by 50 basis points to 8.50%,” Banxico said.

The central bank indicated that additional 50-basis-point cuts are likely.

“The Board estimates that looking ahead it could continue calibrating the monetary policy stance and consider adjusting it in similar magnitudes. It anticipates that the inflationary environment will allow to continue the rate cutting cycle, albeit maintaining a restrictive stance,” Banxico said.

The governing board’s next monetary policy meeting is scheduled for June 26.

Banxico’s key interest rate was held at a record high of 11% for a full year before an easing cycle began in March 2024 with a 25-basis-point cut. Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate rose to a two-decade high of 8.7% in the second half of 2022.

The annual headline rate was 3.93% in April, up from 3.80% in March and 3.77% in February. Banxico targets 3% inflation, but considers any rate between 2% and 4% to be within its acceptable range.

The outlook for inflation 

Banxico forecasts that the headline inflation rate will fall to 3.5% in the third quarter of 2025 before declining to 3.3% in Q4.

The central bank predicts that inflation will continue to fall in 2026 to reach 3% in the third quarter of next year.

Banxico’s outlook extends to the first quarter of 2027, at which point it forecasts that annual headline inflation will still be at the 3% target rate.

Peso closes at 19.50 the dollar 

After closing at 19.38 to the dollar on Wednesday, the peso depreciated on Thursday ahead of Banxico’s interest rate announcement.

The Bank of Mexico’s closing USD:MXN rate on Thursday was 19.50.

peso
The peso has performed well compared to the greenback this year, remaining below 20 to the dollar since mid-April. (Shutterstock)

The peso on Wednesday reached its strongest position since October, the month President Claudia Sheinbaum took office.

The currency has performed well this year after depreciating significantly in 2024 due to a range of factors including the ruling Morena party’s comprehensive victory in Mexico’s 2024 elections last June, Congress’ approval of a controversial judicial reform and Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election last November.

Since Trump took office, the peso has appreciated 6.5% against the greenback, despite the U.S. president imposing tariffs on a range of Mexican goods, including steel, aluminum, vehicles and products not covered by the USMCA free trade pact.

Mexico News Daily

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