It's been a rough week for the peso, which has lost roughly 2% of its value since last Friday. (Shutterstock)
The Mexican peso depreciated on Friday morning to trade at close to 19 to the US dollar, a weakening of more than 2% compared to its position a week ago.
After closing at 18.87 to the dollar on Thursday, the peso fell to as low as 18.98 to the greenback early Friday.
At 11:15 a.m. Mexico City time, the USD:MXN exchange rate was 18.94, according to Bloomberg.
Data showing that non-farm payrolls in the U.S. increased by 73,000 jobs in July — well below the 110,000 jobs economists polled by Reuters had predicted — raised expectations that the United States Federal Reserve will cut its federal funds rate in September.
The 18.98 rate to which the peso depreciated early Friday represented a 2.3% depreciation for the currency compared to its closing position of 18.54 to the dollar last Friday.
As the peso lost ground against the dollar early Friday, the greenback depreciated against a basket of six major foreign currencies, as shown in a decline of the U.S. Dollar Index.
A bad week for the peso
The peso depreciated on Monday to close at 18.76 to the dollar before appreciating slightly on Tuesday to end the day at 18.75, according to the Bank of Mexico.
On Wednesday, the peso declined to 18.85 to the greenback. It fell again on Thursday to close at 18.87.
The depreciation on Thursday and Friday morning occurred despite President Claudia Sheinbaum reaching a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that allowed Mexico to avoid the implementation of a 30% tariff that was scheduled to take effect today.
The peso depreciated in July, ending a 6-month streak of gains
The peso depreciated 0.6% in July, according to Bank of Mexico data.
Its closing position at the end of the month — 18.87 — was 11 centavos above the 18.76 USD:MXN rate at the end of June.
The depreciation in July came after a six-month streak of gains for the peso.
Here are the Bank of Mexico closing USD:MXN rates for the final trading day of every month since December.
December 31: 20.88
January 31: 20.69 (peso appreciated 0.9% in one month)
February 28: 20.58 (peso appreciated 0.5%)
March 31: 20.46 (peso appreciated 0.6%)
April 30: 19.61 (peso appreciated 4.3%)
May 30: 19.39 (peso appreciated 1.1%)
June 30: 18.76 (peso appreciated 3.3%)
July 31: 18.87 (peso depreciated 0.6%)
Even with the depreciation of the peso to above 18.90 to the dollar on Friday morning, Mexico’s currency has gained more than 10% against the greenback this year.
Never mind the rain! As summer’s last stand, August arrives in Mexico with world-class photography and the best of Japanese culture. (Museo Franz Mayer)
Aftera very rainy summer in the capital, August arrives in Mexico City with a mélange of world-class documentary photography and emerging artists from Tepito. If you’re not much into art or photo exhibits, do not fret! Kids’ summer courses in the chinampas and the best of performative arts will be up this month to enjoy with the whole family. So pack your umbrellas and sunscreen! Here’s what’s on in Mexico City in August 2025.
World Press Photo 2025
(Victoria Valtierra Ruvalcaba/Cuartoscuro)
The world’s leading international photojournalism competition returns once again to its home venue, the Franz Mayer Museum. For the 68th edition, the awarded photographers from around the globe were tasked with addressing several political, cultural, and climate-related conflicts. Out of roughly 59,320 documentary photographs, only 42 works were selected this year.
Date: Aug. 1 to Sept. 28 Location: Franz Mayer Museum. Av. Hidalgo 45, Centro, Cuauhtémoc. Cost: 100 pesos for adults; 60 pesos for students, teachers and seniors
Gabriel Orozco: Politécnico Nacional
(Museo Jumex)
For the first time in almost 20 years, the Jumex Museum brings together an ambitious solo exhibition by Mexican multidisciplinary artist Gabriel Orozco. Born inXalapa, Veracruz, Orozco has always been fascinated by objects and materials of everyday life, which confer “the possibility of giving materiality to time.” The exhibition features 300 works from throughout Orozco’s artistic career, “from small sculptures to complex installations, between photography and drawing, accompanied by painting, sculpture, assemblages and games.”
Date: Runs until Aug. 3 Location: Museo Jumex. Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 303, Granada, Miguel Hidalgo. Cost: Free of charge
From the heart of the barrio. Tepito: deep roots, resonant voices
(INBAL)
Beyond being a “barrio bravo,” Tepito is one of Mexico City’s most emblematic cultural districts — and it resonates with the voices of its emerging artists. This comes to show in “Desde el corazón del barrio,” a group exhibition that brings together more than 20 artists “who live, create, or maintain close ties to the Tepito neighborhood.” With over 80 pieces in various formats, the exhibition aims to highlight artistic practices linked to a historically stigmatized community, reclaiming its heritage and present through art.
Date: Runs until Aug. 3 Location: Galería José María Velasco. Peralvillo 55, Morelos, Cuauhtémoc. Cost: Free of charge
Mayotzincuepa circus festival
(Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Le Monastère, a cabaret company based in Montreal (Canada), starred in the opening show of the Mayotzincuepa Circus Festival. Spectators will enjoy aerial dance performances, clown acts and thrilling circus shows in several locations across town. As the inaugural event, the program has created high expectations among theater connoisseurs and performance artists as one of the largest performing arts programs this year.
Date: Runs until Aug. 4 Locations:Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris, FARO Cosmos and open-air theaters in the Iztacalco, Magdalena Contreras and Tlalpan boroughs Cost: Free of charge
A summer among chinampas
(Eduardo González/Pexels)
In an effort to preserve the chinampera tradition in Xochimilco, over 500 years old, the Chinampaxóchitl Museum will host a summer course for children. Designed for ages 7 to 13, kids will learn about “the natural and cultural importance of the Xochimilco lake area and the chinampa zone,” said the museum in anInstagram post. The course includes four sessions, in which children will enjoy fun activities as they learn about the history and cultivation techniques used in thechinampas today.
Date: Aug. 5-9 Location: Museo Chinampaxóchitl at Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco. Periférico Oeriente 1, Ciénaga Grande. Xochimilco. Cost: Free of charge
Watch Itatí Cantoral’s ‘Juicio a una zorra‘
(Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)
Mexican actress and cabaret performer Itatí Cantoral returns to the theaters with one of the “most challenging performances of [her] career,” according toTimeOut México. Staged and directed by Alonso Íñiguez, this provocative monologue portrays Helen of Troy, the eternally condemned woman from Homer’s Iliad, with a new voice. Inspired by gender struggles and critically examining how the Trojan princess has historically been condemned, Juicio a una zorra rewrites the myth from a female voice filled with fury and dignity.
Date: From July 20 to Aug. 31 Locations: La Teatrería. Tabasco 152, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc. Cost: Entrance fees may vary
Cri Cri symphonic concert
(Victoria Valtierra Ruvalcalba/Cuartoscuro)
“El Ratón Vaquero”, “La Muñeca Fea” and other fan favorites will fill Sala Nezahualcóyotl concert hall this August. Performed by the Minería Symphony Orchestra, this concert will be an opportunity to hear the classics of maestro Francisco Gabilondo Soler, a Mexican composer and singer known for his children’s songs, as actor Mario Iván Martínez, nationally renowned for his children’s books readings, sings iconic Cri Cri pieces.
Date: Aug. 9 & 30 Location: Sala Nezahualcóyotl. Insurgentes Sur 3000, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán. Cost: Tickets starting at 400 pesos
Natsu Matsuri Festival 2025
(Juan Pablo Zamora/Cuartoscuro)
Organized by the Mexico-Japan Association (AMJ), the Natsu Matsuri Festival is the capital’s yearly opportunity to taste genuine ceremonial matcha and try regional street food. Translated from Japanese as “summer festival,” the event features fashion runways, a culinary bazaar and tea ceremonies.
Massive drums and yukatas, Japan’s iconic ceremonial suit, will prance across the Natsu Matsuri Festival runway this year. Sipping on a delicious sample of traditional jasmine tea or Sapporo beer, spectators will enjoy a display of Bon Odori, the traditional dance of Japan. So, fetch your best kimono and stroll across Fujiyama Street to live your geisha fantasy at the Natsu Matsuri Festival.
Date: Aug. 16-17 Location: Fujiyama 144, Águilas, Álvaro Obregón. Cost: Workshop fees may vary
The Jazz Room: Journey to the Heart of New Orleans
(Fever/The Jazz Room)
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong in CDMX?! Not exactly. Some excellent interpreters will come, though. Along with some cocktails and improv sessions, The Jazz Room comes to town after being a hit in Madrid, Barcelona and Santiago City. The ensemble will take us straight to the 20s in NOLA, birthplace of this iconic genre, to bring back the golden age of jazz.
Date: Aug. 16 Location: Hilton Santa Fe. Antonio Dovali Jaime 70, Santa Fe, Cuajimalpa. Cost: Entrance fees vary
42nd Mexico City Marathon
(Cuartoscuro)
As August comes to an end, runners from across the country will compete to beat their personal records on the Telcel Mexico City Marathon. As one of the major sporting events in the capital this year, the event is expected to attract thousands of runners. As stated by the Mexico City Government, the 2025 route will start on Avenida Insurgentes Sur, between the Central Library and the Olympic Stadium, and finish in the capital’s Zócalo.
Runners will enjoy iconic landmarks of Mexico City, including UNAM’s Olympic Stadium, the Angel of Independence, the Diana the Huntress roundabout and the Monument to the Revolution, among others.
Date: Aug. 31 Location: Follow the official routehere Cost: 800 pesos for Mexicans and residents and US $110 for foreign athletes
Oaxaca artist Jacobo Ángeles and his wife built the Taller Jacobo y María Ángeles, a cultural hub where traditional Zapotec weaving and carving techniques blended with cutting-edge design.(Amigos MAP)
Oaxaca’s intricate weave of color, culture, cuisine, and creativity attracts Mexican folk art collectors and cultural travelers from far-flung corners of the globe. From Nelson Rockefeller, who fortified his extensive collection with hand-crafted artisan pieces while traveling through Oaxaca in the 1960s, to Janice Hatfield, who dedicated a significant portion of her amassed collection to the Smithsonian Institute, Mexico’s most colorful state stands as a leader in artistic innovation.
Who can we thank for putting Oaxaca on the creative community map? The 10 artists below represent just a fraction of the region’s visionary prowess, each contributing to the development of Oaxacan expression in a powerful way.
Rufino Tamayo was orphaned by age 12. Born in Oaxaca, his father abandoned the family and his mother died of tuberculosis. He moved to Mexico City to live with an aunt, helping run her family’s fruit stall. This experience would profoundly impact his artistic journey, inspiring the legendary watermelon motifs for which he is so well known. Fiercely independent, Tamayo rebelled against the art scene which, at that time, was largely a series of political statements by the likes of Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Instead, Tamayo chose to focus on a unique blend of European modernism and Mexican roots. He would eventually found two museums: Museo Tamayo in Mexico City, and Museo de Arte Prehispánico de México Rufino Tamayo in Oaxaca.
Francisco Toledo (July 17, 1940 – September 5, 2019) Painter, sculptor, cultural activist
(Christies)
Oaxaca’s landscape and culture laid the groundwork for Toledo’s surrealist, at times fantastical, paintings, known for their rough lines and rich textures. Thanks to a rural upbringing in a Zapotec family, he was immersed in legend, myth, and the region’s wild nature from a young age. After his parents sent him to high school in Oaxaca City in the hopes he would become a lawyer, Toledo went on to study art, spending time in Mexico City, New York, and Paris, where he would befriend Rufino Tamayo. A tireless advocate for Oaxacan heritage and social justice, Toledo founded the beloved Instituto de Artes Gráficas de Oaxaca (IAGO). Perhaps his most famous work came in the form of activism — in 2002, the artist organized a protest against a proposed McDonald’s in Oaxaca City, handing out tamales at the potential site and generating the slogan “Tamales sí, hamburguesas no.”
Morales grew up in a small Oaxacan village in a working-class family. A solitary child, he often turned to drawing to pass the time. While his parents recognized early on that Morales had artistic talent, it was his Aunt Petra who fostered his imagination and encouraged his creative side. Though his education was interrupted, Morales would later attend the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City to study art. His style, magical realism centered on the resilience of Oaxacan women and the matriarchy, can be found on canvas and the walls of important buildings, notably the Municipal Palace of Ocotlán, which showcases a colorful depiction of local village life. Morales dedicated his latter years to restoration, bringing back to life Oaxaca’s most historic churches and convents, including the 16th-century Convent of Santo Domingo.
Amador Montes (June 16, 1975 – ) Painter, curator, boutique hotel creator
(Amador Montes/Instagram)
Amador Montes is one of Oaxaca’s most celebrated contemporary artists. He’s presented his paintings locally and globally, each piece inspired by dreams, memories, and emotions, evoking feelings of nostalgia. His luminous color palette—which reflects the full spectrum of hues ranging from bold to neutral—often features black lettering, notably the name Carmen. Much of his work is dedicated to his mother, and her name graces everything from Montes’ paintings to the two boutique hotels he opened in Oaxaca City, both named Casa Carmen. Beyond creating, Montes is also a curator, passionate in his support of young Oaxacan artists and known for hosting local exhibitions and creative dialogue.
Manuel Jiménez Ramírez (June 9, 1919 – March 4, 2005) Alebrije pioneer and healer
(Wikimedia)
Manuel Jiménez Ramírez is credited as the originator of the Oaxacan alebrije, the state’s vibrant tradition of fantastical, hand-carved wooden animals and mythical creatures. As a child, he began by molding animals in clay, later discovering his true passion was in woodcarving. Known locally as “el divino,” Jiménez Ramírez believed himself to be the reincarnation of an artist, and his neighbors often regarded him as a spiritual healer. Beyond art, he worked as everything from a cane cutter to a bricklayer, basket maker, and community leader during Holy Week celebrations. Today, his children and grandchildren carry on the family legacy, shaping the artistic identity of Oaxaca at large.
Jacobo Ángeles (March 14, 1973 – ) Master alebrije carver and Zapotec cultural advocate
(Jacobo Ángeles)
Jacobo Ángeles’ creative spirit was nurtured by growing up in a Zapotec household surrounded by woodcarvers and artisans. After the sudden loss of his father when he was just 12, the young creator took charge of the family workshop, teaching the craft of carving to his younger siblings and supporting the household.
He later married María del Carmen Mendoza, and together they built the Taller Jacobo y María Ángeles, a cultural hub where traditional Zapotec weaving and carving techniques blend with cutting-edge design. His alebrijes are notable for their intricate patterns — inspired by Zapotec symbols and ancient mythology — and frequently combine mythical creatures with human features. In 2014, Jacobo was invited to meet Pope Francis and exhibit 1,200 hand-carved nativity scene figures and Christmas ornaments at the Vatican Museums.
Josefina Aguilar (February 22, 1945 – ) Iconic potter and figurine artist
(Alchetron)
Hailing from the same town as Rodolfo Morales, Josefina Aguilar is internationally lauded for her vibrant, molded clay figurines representing Mexican rural life, festive traditions, saints, historical figures, and community rituals. Taught by her mother and grandmother from the age of six, Josefina began gaining attention in her youth, and her works would eventually be collected by connoisseurs like Nelson Rockefeller. Despite losing her sight in 2014, Josefina continues to shape her whimsical muñecas (dolls), relying on touch while her children help her paint. Her home and studio are a beacon for folk art collectors, and her family remains a central force in the evolution and global adoration of Oaxacan ceramics.
Pastora Gutiérrez Reyes (dates not publicly confirmed) Revolutionary weaver and women’s advocate
Economic Empowerment through Collaboration
BMW Foundation
Pastora Gutiérrez Reyes is a Zapotec leader and weaving artist from Teotitlán del Valle. In 1997, driven by the lack of opportunities for women in her traditional community, she cofounded Vida Nueva, the village’s first all-women’s weaving cooperative.
Together with her mother, grandmother, and friends, she guided the co-op to economic independence, education, and social change. Through Vida Nueva, Pastora helped bring public health education, workshops on domestic violence and support to further educate local women. Her impact is as much about advocacy as artistry: Today, the cooperative’s Mexican textiles are recognized for blending Zapotec tradition with the group’s innovative designs, and the co-op empowers women in rural Oaxaca.
Doña Rosa (September 4, 1900 – July 12, 1980) Legendary innovator of Barro Negro
(File photo)
In the 1950s, Doña Rosa — born Rosa Real Mateo de Nieto in San Bartolo Coyotepec — dramatically transformed the fate of Mexican pottery with a single discovery. Traditionally, the region’s barro negro (black clay) was matte and gray, relied on for its broad utility rather than its aesthetic. Doña Rosa found that by burnishing the clay with a quartz stone and firing it at a lower temperature, she could create a deep, lustrous black sheen.
This technique made Oaxacan pottery famous throughout the world. Doña Rosa’s descendants continue to run the family workshop to this day, and for art collectors serious about Mexican folk art, it’s a must-visit. Doña Rosa’s ingenuity not only upended an entire craft it also inspired a wave of creative and economic activity that continues to reverberate in Oaxaca’s Central Valleys.
Enedina Vásquez Cruz carries the centuries-old tradition of Oaxacan ceramics forward with her award-winning terracotta figures and jewelry. Trained in her family’s workshop from a young age, Enedina innovated the art when she recovered ancient slip recipes revealing a method to create an earthy palette.
In fact, the recipes uncovered over 80 natural colors, all derived from traditional sources. Her detailed works are generally centered on Indigenous women in regional dress, as well as double-sided pieces depicting religious icons and historic narratives. Her ability to connect Oaxaca’s pre-Hispanic past to contemporary beliefs has garnered Cruz a number of major national prizes, making her a major force in the region’s artistic landscape.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.
President Sheinbaum started her Thursday presser later than usual, after a call with U.S. President Trump. (Saúl López Escorcia/Presidencia)
President Claudia Sheinbaum started her Thursday morning press conference at the later time of 10 a.m. as she had a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the day.
Economy Minister Ebrard and Foreign Minister de la Fuente accompanied Sheinbaum Thursday to report on the progress of tariff negotiations. (Saúl López Escorcia/Presidencia)
At the beginning of her press conference, Sheinbaum said that Mexico “achieved a good agreement” that “protects the USMCA,” the North America free trade pact that is scheduled for review in 2026.
Most Mexican products that comply with the rules of the three-way trade pact currently enter the U.S. tariff-free, while non-USMCA compliant goods face a 25% duty. That situation won’t change as Mexico and the United States seek to come to a longer-term agreement on trade during the next 90 days.
Trump told Sheinbaum in a letter earlier this month that he intended to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico because Mexico wasn’t doing enough to combat the trafficking of fentanyl to the United States.
It was unclear whether the 30% duty would have applied to all imports from Mexico or just those that don’t comply with the USMCA.
Mexico didn’t commit to any ‘additional action’ to win tariff reprieve, says Sheinbaum
A reporter asked the president whether Mexico offered anything specific to the United States that allowed it to win a reprieve from the tariff that was scheduled to take effect on Friday.
Sheinbaum said that Mexico “made various propositions” to the United States, including one on how to reduce the trade deficit the United States has with Mexico.
She said that Mexican officials also spoke to their U.S. counterparts about “significant investments” of United States companies in Mexico.
“But they remained on the table,” Sheinbaum said of Mexico’s proposals.
“The agreement we have didn’t involve any additional action on Mexico’s part,” she said.
On social media, Trump said on Thursday morning that “Mexico has agreed to immediately terminate its Non Tariff Trade Barriers, of which there were many.”
Asked about that statement, Sheinbaum responded:
“In the USMCA, there are a number of agreements — many of them — related to labor issues, investment issues, and many other issues. So, there are always complaints from Mexico or complaints from the United States toward Mexico.”
Asked which non-tariff trade barriers Mexico would terminate, Sheinbaum referred the question to Ebrard.
The economy minister said that Trump was referring to “trade regulation issues,” but didn’t cite specific barriers that Mexico would eliminate.
“There are a series of questions that aren’t just: ‘What tariff am I going to impose on you?’, but rather ‘How will our trade work in the years to come?’, and that is what we are working on,” Ebrard said.
What will Mexico seek to achieve in the next 90 days?
In a social media post on Thursday morning, Sheinbaum said that Mexico had secured “90 days to build a long-term [trade] agreement through dialogue” with the United States government.
That agreement will be separate from the USMCA.
Sheinbaum said that the “most important thing” for Mexico is to continue to have the best possible trading situation with the United States — one that places the country in an advantageous position compared to the rest of the world.
“That’s what we’re seeking,” she said.
‘Mutual respect’ key to reaching deal to avoid 30% tariff, says Sheinbaum
Asked what the key was to achieving Thursday’s agreement with Trump, Sheinbaum cited “mutual respect.”
“We have to say it, President Trump has treated us with respect in all the calls we’ve had,” she said, noting that she has spoken to the U.S. leader on various occasions.
She added that she and her government also treats Trump with respect.
Sheinbaum said Mexico’s close trade relationship with the U.S. has helped Mexico secure favorable treatment. Pictured: A trailer of merchandise crosses the Mexico-U.S. border. (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas)
Sheinbaum said that another factor that allowed Mexico to avoid the 30% tariff is the importance of the country to the United States.
In addition, Mexico has made progress in the fight against fentanyl, seizing large quantities of the synthetic opioid during the Sheinbaum administration and dismantling more than 1,000 clandestine lab where that drug and others were made.
No in-person meeting between Sheinbaum and Trump is planned
Sheinbaum said that no arrangements had been made for her to meet face-to-face with Trump.
“We simply said goodbye to each other very cordially and he said: ‘Well, I hope to speak to you in around 90 days,'” she said.
Mexico to continue negotiating on steel and auto tariffs
Sheinbaum noted that existing U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, vehicles and tomatoes will “remain as they are.”
“But that doesn’t mean that will be the case … [during the next] 90 days. We’re still working on that,” she said, referring to efforts to have the duties eliminated or reduced.
Sheinbaum stressed that Ebrard has “a lot of contact” with United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Economy Minister Ebrard (left) and Foreign Minister de la Fuente (center right) have close working relationships with U.S. counterparts, Sheinbaum said. (Saúl López Escorcia/Presidencia)
She also said that Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente has a “very good relationship” with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Fresh Mexican tomatoes face a 17% tariff, imposed by the United States earlier this month after it withdrew from a 2019 agreement with Mexico that suspended an antidumping duty investigation.
Ebrard: Sheinbaum’s capacity to persuade Trump is ‘remarkable’
Ebrard told Sheinbaum’s press conference that “as a witness of the call” the president had with Trump, he was able to say that her “handling” of the discussion with the U.S. president was “splendid.”
“This is a result that is due to that,” he said.
“… Without any intention of flattery, I can tell you that the management the president has of her conversations, her manner, the firmness with which she defends the interests of Mexico and her capacity to persuade President Trump, is remarkable,” Ebrard said.
Despite her status as ‘the world’s leading Trump whisperer,’ President Sheinbaum and U.S. President Trump have no plans to meet in person. (Presidencia, Gage Skidmore)
Ebrard said that Mexico remains in a “much better” position than “the rest of the countries of the world” in terms of trade with the United States.
He highlighted, once again, that 84.4% of Mexico’s trade with the United States is tariff free thanks to the USMCA.
“No other country has that, with the exception of Canada,” Ebrard said.
De la Fuente also lauds Sheinbaum
Foreign Minister de la Fuente, who was also present during Sheinbaum’s call with Trump, was also effusive in his praise for the president.
He lauded Sheinbaum’s “leadership and her extraordinary capacity for dialogue” with Trump, who he described as “a world leader who has been very explicit in his propositions and points of view.”
De la Fuente also praised Sheinbaum’s “firmness in the defense of the interests of our country and her intelligence in conducting a conversation that provides enormous advantages to Mexico.”
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Moya's passing elicited espressions of praise from the top ranks of Mexican culture, including a statement from the Culture Ministry: "Moya captured historical processes that today are part of an essential legacy of memory and truth." (Isaac Ezquivel/Cuartoscuro)
Moya, a naturalized Mexican, passed away at his home in Cuernavaca on Wednesday after a long illness, surrounded by his family and his partner of 43 years, Susan Flaherty.
— Malely Linares Sánchez (@Malelylinares) July 30, 2025
Mexico’s Ministry of Culture lamented Moya’s passing on social media, writing that “[h]is work acutely portrayed the social inequalities, popular struggles and revolutionary movements of the 1950s and 1960s. Author of the famous portrait ‘Melancholic Che,’ Moya captured historical processes that today are part of an essential legacy of memory and truth. May he rest in peace.”
Moya, whose work has been compared favorably to Henri Cartier Bresson and Manuel Álvarez Bravo, photographed political unrest throughout Latin America during the 1950s and 1960s, including the guerrilla movements in Guatemala and Venezuela, the U.S. invasion of Santo Domingo, and the Cuban Revolution.
He captured the human cost of civil and military uprisings and the people who lived through those turbulent times, and memorably described photography as “the most intense approach to life, to the nature of the world, to the beings and things that entered through my lens and remain there.”
Moya referred to his subjects as “populating memory and the small surface of photographic paper, refusing to die, looking at me with the same eyes they looked at me with decades ago.”
Moya was honored at the age of 85 by an exhibition titled “Rodrigo Moya, Photographic Testimony of Mexico,” at the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. (Isaac Esquivel/Cuartoscuro)
He abandoned the profession of photography in 1968 to focus on print journalism and produce documentaries, although he continued to take photographs.
Some of his images from this later period were featured at The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in 2015, billed as the first retrospective of Moya’s career to be exhibited in the United States.
They featured subjects such as the sea and residents of fishing communities, as well as the countryside, the streets of Mexico, religious processions and portraits of both anonymous people and celebrities.
Wittliff curators wrote that images by Moya published in eminent Latin American news magazines such as Impacto, El Espectador, Sucesos and Siempre! documented newsworthy events, “while providing an insider’s view, suggesting that his subjects were waiting for his camera.”
He said of himself: “I think my photos did have a constant search, but more than a seeker of images, I was a seeker of social contrasts, I was a seeker of the physiology of Mexico and the economic physiology of our countries.”
In a pamphlet explaining the exhibit “Eyes Wide Open” featuring photos by Moya, The Etherton Gallery in Tucson, Arizona, described him as “part photojournalist, part street photographer.”
Rodrigo Moya and his domestic partner of 43 years Susan Flaherty share a moment at an exhibition of his work in San Marcos, Texas in 2015. (Wikimedia Commons)
“The photographer renders timeless, the sweet, ordinary moments of life, like a girl looking out a train window in “La Muchacha.” His affecting portraits afford the same dignity to renowned artist Diego Rivera as to an agricultural laborer in “La vida no es bella” (“Life is not Beautiful”).”
Moya was born in Medellín, Colombia, on April 10, 1934. His father was Mexican.
Moya took his famous photo of Che in July 1964 as part of a project to produce a book about the Cuban Revolution that was never written. On the last day of the visit to Cuba, he did a series of 19 portraits of the revolutionary, including the image of Guevara smoking a cigar, with a sad expression.
In 1997, Moya won Mexico’s National Short Story Award for his book “Cuentos para leer junto al mar” (“Stories to read by the sea”).
Adán Augusto López, seen here at a 2022 press conference, served as federal interior minister to former President López Obrador. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
A political scandal that has been brewing since the beginning of the year is shining a spotlight on high-ranking members of the ruling Morena party — most notably Mexico’s former interior minister and ex-governor of Tabasco, Adán Augusto López. Allegations of illegal activity have now led opposition leaders to file a criminal complaint against López, even as ruling party lawmakers block attempts to discuss the case in Congress.
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) on Wednesday formally requested that the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) investigate López, currently a Morena party senator, for criminal association while also demanding that he resign from office.
The accusation stems from López’s relationship with Hernán Bermúdez, the former state security minister of Tabasco. Bermúdez, who is under investigation for ties to organized crime, fled Mexico in January.
López has not spoken publicly about the scandal, limiting his comments to a July 18 post on X in which he said he was willing to submit to questioning if so required.
Bermúdez allegedly used his position as security minister to establish ties with the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and oversee an extortion racket and fuel-theft ring in Tabasco.
López also faces allegations that, in his capacity as notary public, he helped Bermúdez and his brother set up shell companies utilized to carry out these illegal activities as well as earn millions in state-issued contracts.
Bermúdez remained in charge of the Tabasco Security Ministry after López left the governor’s mansion to become interior minister in 2021, finally stepping aside late last year. He reportedly fled the country in January, just two weeks before an arrest warrant was issued.
Word of the arrest warrant was confirmed in mid-July by Gen. Miguel Ángel López, who said Bermúdez was identified as the leader of the criminal gang known as “La Barredora.” Gen. López said that Interpol has issued a “red notice,” alerting police worldwide that Bermúdez is a fugitive.
Shortly after taking office in October 2024, Tabasco Gov. Javier May identified Bermúdez as the leader of La Barredora. May, a member of Morena, also criticized his predecessors, including López, saying they needed to answer questions about their knowledge of Bermúdez’s activities.
PRI Senator Alejandro Moreno submitted the motion to force López to resign. It was the third time the opposition has sought to open debate on the scandal, but members of the ruling party Morena have repeatedly blocked the topic from being placed on the legislative docket.
Senator Alejandro Moreno is the national leader of Mexico’s PRI party, which ruled the country from 1929 to 2000. (File photo)
Morena lawmakers closed ranks around López on Wednesday, insisting there is no legal foundation for López to resign. “There is no formal investigation of López and the accusations are nothing more than a media-driven smear campaign,” said Morena Senator Imelda Castro.
In its petition to have López removed from office, the PRI cited Senate regulations that define honorability, political responsibility and public ethics as conditions for exercising popular representation.
The PRI party also revealed that it had filed a second complaint with the FGR, requesting an investigation of eight prominent Morena party members, including former President López Obrador, Education Secretary Mario Delgado and five governors. The PRI alleges that the Morena politicians are involved in “a treasonous cover-up of organized crime activities.”
Later Wednesday, the National Action Party (PAN) also demanded a formal investigation into López’s ties to Bermúdez. “This is not an isolated case,” said PAN Senator Ricardo Anaya. “This suggests a pattern of complicity between Morena and organized crime.”
The announcement of Nissan's factory closure in Morelos marked the end of an era. Production will be moving to the more modern and efficient Aguascalientes plant. (Margarito Pérez Retana / Cuartoscuro)
Nissan has officially announced the closure of its plant in the state of Morelos after nearly 60 years of operations, leaving the fate of thousands of employees up in the air.
The Cuernavaca Valley Industrial City (Civac) plant, located in Jiutepec, Morelos, just outside Cuernavaca, was Nissan’s first production facility outside of Japan. However, beginning in March 2026, the end of the Japanese fiscal year, production of all models currently assembled at Civac, including the NP300, Frontier and Versa, will be transferred to the more modern Aguascalientes automotive complex.
😔🏭 Así fue el momento en que la directiva de Nissan anunció a los trabajadores el cierre de la planta de Jiutepec tras 59 años de historia ⏳ La producción se traslada a Aguascalientes 🚚⚙️https://t.co/XN1BFkm9hC
This Spanish-language video, possibly taken clandestinely and posted on X, captures the moment when employees of Nissan’s 59-year-old Cuernavaca plant first learned that they will soon be out of a job.
“Today, we have made the difficult but necessary decision that will allow us to become more efficient, more competitive, and more sustainable,” CEO of Nissan Motor Corporation Ivan Espinosa said, adding that relocating production to Aguascalientes, the capital of the central state of the same name, will ensure the continuity of key models in a facility with greater technological capacity.
This decision is part of the global “Re:Nissan” restructuring plan, which seeks to consolidate production and optimize the company’s efficiency worldwide. According to the newspaper El Universal, Nissan plans to reduce its non-China global production capacity from 3.5 million units to 2.5 million units yearly.
The Cuernavaca plant accounted for approximately 11% of Nissan’s total production in Mexico and had produced more than 6.5 million vehicles since its opening in 1966, marking the beginning of the brand’s international expansion outside of Japan. Over the years, its vehicles have not only been distributed in Mexico but have also reached international markets, including Japan. The Nissan Tsubame was exported in 1993, marking the first model manufactured in Mexico and sold in the Asian country.
Since its opening, Civac has boosted development for the local community and acted as a benchmark for the Mexican automotive industry, which is why the move has raised concerns about the future employment of the plant’s direct employees. The company did not mention in its announcements how many employees will be affected, but the newspaper El País reported that figures from Nissan itself put the number of Civac workers at 4,800 in 2016.
Nissan says it is committed to ensuring a respectful transition for affected employees. However, it has not announced any specific plans about severance, relocation or retirement plans, leaving workers feeling uncertain.
Morelos Governor Margarita González Saravia and state Minister of Economic Development Víctor Sánchez Trujillo announced plans to meet with Nissan representatives to ensure compliance with labor rights and to facilitate a fair transition. The action plan includes placement of employees in other automotive companies in the state, a special program through the National Employment Service (SNE) for new job opportunities, and support for entrepreneurship, leveraging employees’ technical skills.
In an interview, González added that her government will seek to bring in another automotive company to replace Nissan.
As summer winds down, Puerto Vallarta stays hot with a lineup of concerts, comedy shows, theater and music talks that range from the hilarious to the heartfelt.
Whether you’re drawn to the bohemian sound of singer-songwriters or the beat of Chicago house, August offers plenty of ways to stay connected to the culture of this coastal city. Here’s what’s on this month.
La Noche de la Guirnalda
(Grupo de Teatro Dionisio/Facebook)
Grupo de Teatro Dionisio is back with a new original production that reflects the voices and stories of the people who actually live in Puerto Vallarta year-round. “La noche de la guirnalda” (The Night of the Garland) is a tapestry of vignettes inspired by current events, whispered neighborhood rumors and the quiet resilience of everyday life. The play offers a thought-provoking and heartfelt portrayal of Vallarta’s identity beyond tourism.
Dates: August 2 at 8 p.m. Location: Plataforma 322 Cultural Center, Alondra 103, Los Sauces Cost: Tickets via Facebook: Grupo de Teatro Dionisio
Mesmo Rollo Tour 2025
(Mesmitas Oficial CF/Facebook)
If you’ve laughed at them on TikTok, now’s your chance to see them live. The Mesmo Rollo Tour brings together four of Mexico’s most viral comedy groups — Los Mesmos Show, K Rollo Show, Los Wapayasos and Horripicosos — for a night of hilarious sketches, slapstick antics and outrageous costume comedy.
It’s a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud event perfect for anyone who appreciates over-the-top humor and doesn’t mind a few ridiculous surprises.
Dates: August 3 at 5 p.m. Location: Teatro Vallarta, Perú 1105-C, 5 de Diciembre Cost: From 330 pesos
House Rules: The Rise of House Music
(Joint. Boutique Hotel and Cowork/Facebook)
Take a break from the dance floor and learn how house music became one of the most influential genres in the world. Local PV personality Paco Ojeda hosts this immersive presentation that charts the genre’s roots in Chicago’s underground scene to its explosion in global clubs. Featuring iconic tracks and stories from the LGBTQ+ and Black communities who shaped the movement, this session will have you grooving in your seat.
Longtime fans of José Madero and newcomers alike are in for an intimate evening of raw emotion and powerful vocals. As the former frontman of Mexican rock band Panda, Madero has since carved out a deeply personal solo career with an introspective sound that merges rock, poetry and vulnerability. His Sarajevo tour features new material alongside fan favorites in a concert that promises intensity, connection and a whole lot of feels.
Date: August 8 at 8:00 p.m. Location: Teatro Vallarta, Perú 1105-C, 5 de Diciembre Cost: From 2,100 pesos. Tickets via Ticketmania and the Teatro Vallarta box office.
Strings of Light: The Musical Journey of Pat Metheny
(Joint. Boutique Hotel and Cowork/Facebook)
In this beautifully curated listening session, Paco Ojeda dives into the life and music of Pat Metheny, one of modern jazz’s most prolific and genre-defying artists. From his early guitar work to his expansive compositions that mix classical music, folk and fusion, this talk is a deep dive for jazz lovers and curious listeners alike. It’s a warm and enriching evening at the Joint. that explores what makes Metheny’s music so timeless and moving.
Dates: August 21 at 7 p.m. Location: Joint Boutique Hotel and Cowork, Insurgentes 108, Zona Romántica Cost: 300 pesos, cash only; tickets available at Joint’s front desk
Elías Medina’s La Experiencia Tour
(Elías Medina)
With a soulful voice and a knack for writing viral Regional Mexicano hits, Elías Medina brings his signature blend of ballads, humor and storytelling to Vallarta for the first time. Known for penning songs performed by artists like Grupo Firme and Pesado, Medina’s live show goes beyond music — it’s a relaxed, bohemian-style experience filled with emotion, laughter and sing-along moments.
Dates: Aug. 29 at 9 p.m. Location: Teatro Vallarta, Perú 1105-C, 5 de Diciembre Cost: Tickets start at 550 pesos
Hermanos de Leche Comedy Show
(Hermanos de Leche)
Podcasters, online influencers and comedy duo Iván “La Mole” Fematt and Adrián Marcelo are kicking off their world tour in Vallarta with Hermanos de Leche, a high-octane standup show that blends soccer fandom with sharp satire.
The two are known for their viral banter and unfiltered takes on everything from sports to pop culture, with a focus on hilarious and often absurd life lessons. This adult-only Spanish-language show is a must for fans of edgy, sports-laced humor.
Date: August 30 at 9 p.m. Location: Teatro Vallarta, Perú 1105-C, 5 de Diciembre Cost: From 400 pesos. Tickets via Arema and the Teatro Vallarta box office
Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com.
What attracts most people to San Miguel de Allende is challenging to put into words. And yet, the ephemeral charms of its jacarandas in spring and gilded 17th-century Baroque mural work splashed across the ceilings of sanctuaries earned the Bajío town a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation and the local pride of being celebrated as the “Best City in the World” by Travel + Leisure magazine once again this year.
As a hospitality lifer and former Top 10 in America restaurant owner with a live-in James Beard Award-nominated chef for a mother, I wasn’t looking at San Miguel’s restaurant scene through rose-colored glasses when I got here four years ago. I arrived pregnant with twins and I was constantly starving. Eating for three and on the hunt for comfort meals, I was mainly disappointed by the mediocre dining options downtown.
(Pablo Velasco)
Most “where to eat in San Miguel de Allende” searches will steer you to overpriced rooftop bars, where jaw-dropping pastel panoramas form the backdrop for exquisitely plated, nonspecific international fare. But Centro’s feast-for-the-eyes dishes are woefully lacking in sazón and soul, despite their aesthetic overtures. Regrettably, San Miguel’s relatively walkable, densely concentrated city center is where many of its most-read city guides start and end.
Having lived in five different homes and neighborhoods since giving birth here, I — alongside my Burmese American chef-mama, Mexican foodie husband and Bur-Mexi gourmand toddlers — have tirelessly combed the city in search of memorable meals for our multicultural palates. If you’re taking your cues from “best of” roundups, you might miss the chance to experience an elite culinary tour of the world on a plate, and I don’t want you to have to wait four years like we did before discovering it.
Spoiler alert: You’re not going to find any of our neighborhood gems on the 50 Best Bars list or in the Michelin guide yet, but you’re guaranteed to become a repeat customer, complete with bragging rights to confidently say you didn’t fall prey to tourist traps on all the “it” lists written by people just passing through. Whether you’re in town for a visit or here for the long haul, I beg you: Don’t spend all your time in Centro’s 60-block radius. Instead, head down San Miguel’s main thoroughfare, the Salida a Celaya, leading toward the nearby city of Celaya, famed for regional delicacies like artisanal cajeta, or goat’s milk caramel. Should you dare to venture south of Centro just five minutes by car — or a 20-minute walk — I’ll show you where the industry locals go to eat along what we can call the Salida a Celaya strip.
A massive copper espresso machine shines at the entrance of Café Quería, a beacon lighting the way inside a temple to Mexico’s carne asada heritage, filled with some of the city’s best espresso drinks, made with Tatemado’s locally roasted specialty coffee. On the back patio, light and shadows wind through the roofing’s bamboo slats, dancing over humble metal trays filled with a half-dozen housemade condiments. And if the bone marrow oozing over dichromatic layers of hand-nixtamaled, grill-kissed tortillas and the cloudlike microfoam on your flat white feels like they’ve been blessed, that’s because, well, they have been.
Since 2023, co-owners Andrix Oropeza, 28, and Tim Vanderwerf, 29, have consciously created a speakeasy sanctuary through their revolutionary, faith-based vision of hospitality where, as Oropeza puts it, “no one is disposable.” Just a few years before opening Quería, the pair met at Andrix’s family taco cart, Los Tiznados. Realizing they shared a vision that began in their adolescence, Café Quería only hires local youth from underserved populations in partnership with the Christian nonprofit Young Life. Staff members, who Oropeza calls the “arms and legs” of the operation, generally join the team with no prior restaurant experience, then rotate through all service stations, front and back of house, in hopes of finding their niche and being promoted from within. Many, like the current 16-year-old manager who gleefully greets guests at the start of every visit, do just that.
While Vanderwerf is the Querétaro-born, Puebla-raised son of Michigan missionary parents with no prior restaurant experience, much of Oropeza’s paternal lineage has been dedicated to making Hidalgo-style barbacoa and pollo ximbo, a dish traditionally associated with the Hñähñu (Otomí) people of Hidalgo’s Mezquital Valley. Like barbacoa, pollo ximbo is marinated in chili and spices, then wrapped in maguey leaves and cooked overnight in an earth oven.
Unintentionally planting seeds for his future endeavor during the Covid-19 pandemic, Oropeza followed his mother’s patient guidance in the kitchen, with Mamá Oropeza giving her son specific instructions for how to make traditional home-cooked meals from her childhood. In 2022, after shuttering Kab’an, the family’s first seasonally-inspired comida de origen Mexican restaurant, Oropeza’s time at Los Tiznados proved not only inspirational but foundational for the recipes Quería now serves: crispy enchiladas dedicated to his dad, comforting chilaquiles he hopes his mom will approve of and saucy enfrijoladas prepared the way his sister likes them.
The menu reflects the culmination of both owners’ teenage dreams, a sacred tribute to Hidalgo family-style memories, homestyle Mexican fare and the team’s daily prayer. With every visit, the Quería crew aims to restore something in you. “Isn’t that the whole point?” Oropeza asks. “Restaurants are about restoration through hospitality.”
Chef Vanessa Romero and her mostly female cooking crew embody everything about being chingona (badass). The breakfast-all-day menu retains the authentic essence of old classics while innovating florally adorned, futuristic takes on them. Better still, Romero’s no-frills, all-flavor approach to upgrading Mexican morning staples like stuffed chilaquiles embarazadoswith pressed pork rinds, dusted with black chili ash and floating in a morita salsa alongside smoky-sweet café de olla served in canteen cups is more reminiscent of a backyard barbecue than sitting down at a restaurant.
Don’t leave without ordering the corn and cottage cheese hot cakes, drizzled with pure agave honey and fresh berries. Avocado water may sound like an oddly savory finish, but its creamy texture and sweet-salty balance offer guilt-free indulgence to wash it all down. On weekends, Raíces stays open until 10 p.m., with seasonally rotating dinner specials.
Before my kids were born, they were somersaulting in my belly as their dad and I spun around to live salsa rhythms at this modern Peruvian joint’s former rooftop location. Once our children were old enough to join us at Lima, we were thankful for the high chairs that were slid tableside even before us having to ask for them, the cheerful waiters who made our little diners feel special by carrying them on their hips to high-five Chef Sebastián Soldevila in his open kitchen and the speedy service of generous portions.
Hailing from Cusco, Soldevila delights with unexpected textures in his Peruvian share plates and the most inventive sushi rolls in town. Some might wonder, “Why serve sushi?” Far from being a gringo-bait marketing strategy, Asian-Peruvian cuisine is as authentic to the modern Peruvian culinary canon as is ceviche. That’s because it evolved with generations of of Chinese and Japanese migration to Peru dating back to the 1800s.
On a rainy summer afternoon, nothing beats slurping a bowl of chupe de camarones, a classic soup from Arequipa, Peru, with massive shrimp swimming in a spicy, herbaceous broth. It’s a bewildering pairing that hits your nose before your tongue can figure it out: huacatay (Peruvian black mint) meets strings of melted cheese and a delicate poached egg, with the option to add more seafood to the mix — and I recommend you do.
In 2024, Italian-born Chef Davide Giribaldi of Cien Fuegos and local restaurateur-darlings, the brothers Toño and Andrés Aranda Lavalle, joined forces to launch Fari, boldly replacing their previous grab-and-go torta shop at the same address. Building on the longstanding successes of their other culinary concepts — the inventive tostada mecca Tostévere and the elegant, Mediterranean-inspired Bocaciega, among others — the family legacy continues at this sleek yet casual roadside hub. Here, you can people-watch and soak in street performances on the covered terrace, or nestle cozily into one of the few tables inside for a more intimate evening.
Don’t let the white tablecloths or brick oven-facing bar fool you; the real showstopper is the carciofi al formo, an artichoke a la leña slathered in porcini mushroom hollandaise with a mountain of parmesan hiding a sensuous runny egg that bursts into the heart’s center at first poke. No visit to Fari is complete without a classic cocktail; the Negroni and Aperol Spritz rival those being stirred and poured in New York City’s best bars.
For starters, order the white wine sautéed mussels, dunked in a garlicky parsley broth, accompanied by paprika-seasoned shoestring fries and a torched lemon wedge. Save room for a simple wood-fired margarita pizza that does Italy’s finest bistros justice. The whole experience is pause-worthy. Enjoy la dolce far niente as hand-cut noodles, offered in eight distinct sauce baths, transport you closer to the Bel Paese with each satisfied twist of your fork.
In another Salida a Celaya redemption story, owner Daniel Merkel and his interior architect fiancée Regina Lauxterman gutted Mikka, their fast-casual sushi concept, in 2024 to give it a sexy minimalist design and Asian-inspired menu makeover. The switch to Nudol is paying dividends in local patronage. One of San Miguel’s few late-night dining options that doesn’t demand you quickly wolf down tacos streetside while standing or balancing atop plastic bar stools, Nudol features a crew of rotating DJs spins sets of jazz, funk and rock vinyl from the 1960s to the ’80s, attracting a hipper and more mature local ’30s-to-40s crowd after hours.
Standout dishes include the triple-fried, Korean-ish gojuchang wings, farm-fresh smashed cucumber salad and shio ramen with a chicken-dashi blended broth, a thick slab of flame-torched pork belly and a jammy soy egg. San Miguel’s retirement-age patrons prefer frequenting Nudol’s L-shaped bar or quieter outdoor patio while the sun’s still out. After dark, an unforgettable night of dumplings and drinks could carry on as late as 2 a.m., “if we vibin’,” says Merkel.
Simone Jacobson is a Burmese American cultural connector, toddler twin mama and writer based in San Miguel de Allende. By day, she is the Content Director for Well Spirit Collective. In all other moments, she strives to raise compassionate children who never lose their curiosity, tenderness and radiant light. Read more by Simone here.
Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard accompanied President Sheinbaum in her morning call with U.S. President Trump. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico has avoided the implementation of a 30% tariff on its exports to the United States that was scheduled to take effect this Friday Aug. 1
President Claudia Sheinbaum and United States President Donald Trump announced that the proposed duty wouldn’t take effect on Friday after they spoke by telephone on Thursday morning.
“We had a very good call with the president of the United States, Donald Trump. We avoided the tariff increase announced for tomorrow and secured 90 days to build a long-term agreement through dialogue,” Sheinbaum wrote on social media.
On his social media site, Truth Social, Trump said that his call with Sheinbaum was “very successful in that, more and more, we are getting to know and understand each other.”
“The complexities of a Deal with Mexico are somewhat different than other Nations because of both the problems, and assets, of the Border. We have agreed to extend, for a 90 Day period, the exact same Deal as we had for the last short period of time, namely, that Mexico will continue to pay a 25% Fentanyl Tariff, 25% Tariff on Cars, and 50% Tariff on Steel, Aluminum, and Copper,” he wrote.
“Additionally, Mexico has agreed to immediately terminate its Non Tariff Trade Barriers, of which there were many. We will be talking to Mexico over the next 90 Days with the goal of signing a Trade Deal somewhere within the 90 Day period of time, or longer,” Trump said.
Tuvimos una muy buena llamada con el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump. Evitamos el aumento de aranceles anunciado para mañana y logramos 90 días para construir un acuerdo de largo plazo a partir del diálogo.
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) July 31, 2025
He also said that “there will be continued cooperation on the Border as it relates to all aspects of Security, including Drugs, Drug Distribution, and Illegal Immigration into the United States.”
Status quo maintained; most trade with US is tariff-free
The “25% fentanyl tariff” Trump referred to is a duty on non-USMCA compliant goods that took effect in March.
U.S. content in vehicles made in Mexico is exempt from the United States’ 25% auto tariff, lowering the effective duty on Mexican cars to 15% on average, according to Ebrard.
It was uncertain whether the 30% duty proposed by Trump would have applied to all imports from Mexico, or just those that don’t comply with the rules of the USMCA, the three-way free trade pact that includes the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The U.S. president didn’t provide any clarity on the issue in his Truth Social post on Thursday morning.
Trump’s letter announcing the 30% tariff threat did not specify whether goods covered by the USMCA free trade agreement would be exempt. (Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0)
Trump informed Sheinbaum of his plan to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico in a July 11 letter. A common interpretation of his remarks in that letter was that the proposed duty would only apply to non-USMCA compliant products, and would have thus increased the current rate by five percentage points.
In recent days, Sheinbaum expressed confidence that her government would reach an agreement with the Trump administration to stave off the 30% tariff.
It appears that such an agreement is likely to be reached sometime in the next 90 days.
‘We achieved a good agreement’
“We achieved a good agreement,” Sheinbaum said at the start of her Thursday morning press conference, held at the later time of 10 a.m. due to her call with Trump.
She said that she spoke to her U.S. counterpart for around 40 minutes, and was accompanied by Ebrard, Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for North America Roberto Velasco.
Sheinbaum highlighted that the United States existing tariffs would remain in place and noted that there is a period of 90 days to continue engaging with the U.S. government in order to a establish a “longer-term agreement.”
She said that the deal struck with Trump on Thursday morning is “important” because existing tariffs won’t rise, at least in the short term.
Sheinbaum also said the deal “protects the USMCA” as the majority of Mexico’s trade with the United States will remain tariff-free.
Despite a patchwork of tariffs affecting cars, steel and non-USMCA-compliant goods, most Mexican exports to the U.S. remain duty-free. (Cuartoscuro)
“That is very important,” she said, highlighting that the current 25% tariff — the so-called “fentanyl tariff” — only applies to products made in Mexico that don’t comply with the USMCA.
Sheinbaum said that “within the new trade world order” established by Trump’s protectionist agenda, Mexico has “the best agreement possible.”
“… Investing in Mexico continues to be the best option. We have a very good situation in the face of this new international order,” she said.
” …Our strategy worked,” Sheinbaum said, referring to her government’s trade negotiation strategy, which included a commitment to work to reduce Mexico’s large trade surplus with the United States while cracking down on the production of fentanyl in Mexico and ramping up efforts to stop the drug reaching the U.S.
She said that her government maintained a “cool head” in those negotiations, which were led by Ebrard, who has made frequent trips to Washington since Trump’s second term as president began on Jan. 20.
