“Barbie” opening weekend brings pink fever to Mexico

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July 21, 2023

Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie — Stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling at the Mexican premier of Barbie, on Reforma Avenue, Mexico City. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)

Pink tops, cups and even tacos have swept Mexico, as fans celebrated the national release of the eagerly awaited “Barbie” film on Thursday.

The film, starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll and Ryan Gosling as her boyfriend Ken, has inspired numerous look-alikes at cinemas across the country.

Barbie family — Moviegoers dressed in pink for the opening weekend. (Daniel Bareto/Twitter)

Fans donned all-pink outfits in homage to the film’s aesthetic, also reflecting the “Barbiecore” trend, which became popular on the catwalks of brands such as Valentino in 2022.

Pink cups and popcorn containers rapidly sold out at many movie theaters, to the disappointment of many fans.

It wasn’t only cinemas and the doll’s Mattel brand cashing in on Mexico’s Barbie fever – some enterprising local businesses also found a successful marketing gimmick in dying their products pink.

In the beach resort of Acapulco, Ana Cecilia Ceballos, owner of the “Don Benito” tortillería, started adding beet water to the dough as a natural dye to turn her tortillas pink.

Pink tacos — Pink “Barbie” tacos also proved a hit with hungry Acapulco residents, who paid extra for colored tortillas. (El Guarromantico)

“We started with the idea of offering something different to our customers, in line with the Barbie trend, I love pink and most girls like pink,” she told EFE. “That’s when we started looking for how to pigment the tortilla so that it was that color.”

The innovation was an immediate hit in Acapulco, with local taquerías rushing to buy Ceballos’ pink tortillas, despite them costing an extra two pesos per kilo.

“They just brought us the tortillas and it’s already working really well,” said Julio César, owner of the ‘Taquería Ejido,’ whose business is now selling 150 pink taco orders per night.

“People are accepting it, especially young couples who want to try a different taco. They come already knowing that there is a Barbie taco.”

Ideas for other pink foods such as cheese, bread, cakes and corn have also gone viral on social media.

The “Barbie” film’s plot explores how the doll’s fantasy life gets interrupted by an existential crisis. It has received largely positive reviews since its release, with an average score of 89% on the review site Rotten Tomatoes.

With reports from Forbes, El Universal and Expansion

Cultural event attendance has increased, but still below 2019 levels

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Cat Rainsford

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July 21, 2023

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Ángela Aguilar — The number of attendees at cultural events has increased since the end of the pandemic, says a new survey, but numbers are still well below 2019 prepandemic levels due to what appears to be lower interest. (Diana Valdez/Cuartoscuro)

Public attendance at cultural events in Mexico has grown year-on-year since the pandemic low-point of 2020–2021, but remains 9.1% below 2019 levels, as more people apparently express disinterest in attending such events.

These are the conclusions of the Selected Cultural Events Module (Modecult), part of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Modecult surveyed 2,336 households across the country in May and presented its results on Thursday.

Dance events have been the worst affected by the attendance downturn. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez / Cuartoscuro.com)

Modecult found that 48.7% of respondents attended at least one cultural event in the last 12 months, up from 17.3% in 2021 and 41.2% in 2022. However, the number remained significantly below the 57.8% recorded in 2019.

The gender gap in attendance also widened: in 2019, male attendance of cultural events was 2.9 percentage points higher than female attendance. In 2023, the gap had grown to 7.9 percentage points. Types of cultural events mentioned in the survey included plays, live music and dance performances, art exhibitions and film screenings.

Although all showed a decrease in attendance since 2019, dance events were the hardest hit. Only 7.5% of people said they had attended a dance performance in the last year, compared to 13% in 2019.

By contrast, cinema was the cultural activity with the greatest attendance, with 42.3% of respondents watching a film in theaters in the last year — although this remained lower than the 51% recorded in 2019.

Mexican film production — Cinema attendance was the highest recorded activity, according to the INEGI survey. (Imcine)

Young people were by far the most likely to attend cultural events, the survey found. In the 18–24 age range, 77% of respondents reported attending a cultural event in the last 12 months, compared to only 20% among people over age 65. Modecult did not survey children.

Disinterest in cultural events increased across all categories. Modecult found that 17.6% of people reported no interest in attending a film screening, compared to 11.6% in 2019. Dance again fared the worst, with 47.4% of people reporting no interest in attending a performance, compared to 39.9% in 2019.

Respondents said that the factors most likely to boost their attendance at cultural events were low-cost tickets (43.2% of respondents), events being close to their homes or workplaces (20.7%) and events taking place on the weekend (18.1%).

One of the strongest predictors of event attendance was encouragement during childhood. Among respondents who said they had participated in extracurricular cultural activities as children, 75.1% reported attending a cultural event in the last year.

With reports from El Economista

Psilocybin in Mexico: personal experiences and therapeutic insights

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Camila Sánchez Bolaño

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July 21, 2023

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In recent years, psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms,” has gained significant attention worldwide for its potential therapeutic applications. Mexico, with its rich history and cultural ties to psychedelic or hallucinogenic substances, has also witnessed a growing interest in exploring the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin.

Johns Hopkins Medicine describes psilocybin as a compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms known to cause profound alterations of consciousness and visual and auditory hallucinations. In 2016, researchers at Johns Hopkins made significant strides by discovering that psilocybin, when combined with psychological support, reduced existential anxiety and depression in individuals with a potentially life-threatening cancer diagnosis.

Ana, whose name has been changed to protect her privacy, embarked on her first psilocybin microdosing therapy in San Francisco, she tells me in an interview in Mexico City. Intrigued by the potential benefits — including overcoming depression and anxiety and enhancing creativity — she decided to “open her mind” and give the treatment a try.

Ana’s initial intention was to generally evaluate the effects of psilocybin on her well-being. She shares that her journey with psilocybin microdosing was highly personal. Her treatment spanned 90 days, during which she followed a specific dosage regimen. While individual experiences may vary, Ana emphasizes the importance of clear intentions and focus while consuming psilocybin. It is not unusual for some individuals to initially experience heightened emotions, including sadness and despair, before reaching a positive state.

Ana’s motivations for exploring psilocybin microdosing then extended beyond seeking inner peace. In subsequent treatments in Mexico, she aimed to awaken her creativity for a professional project. The results were gratifying, “with heightened concentration and a surge of creative ideas”, she says. In another instance, Ana utilized psilocybin to address her depression after discontinuing pharmaceutical medications. “The treatment improved my mood, bringing about a sense of enthusiasm and a reduced desire for caffeine and alcohol, which I was consuming all day long”.

A 2021 study conducted on 59 patients with major depression compared the efficacy of the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) with psilocybin. The study revealed that just two doses of psilocybin appeared to be at least as effective as daily escitalopram pills when administered alongside psychological therapy. Patients receiving psilocybin experienced even greater improvement, with double the number achieving remission compared to the antidepressant group. While researchers consider these findings encouraging, they emphasize the importance of further research to understand the role of psilocybin as a therapy for depression. It is strongly advised not to self medicate with psilocybin, as professional psychological therapy is an integral part of the treatment process.

As scientific research continues to shed light on the medicinal properties of psilocybin, the legal status of this substance has become a subject of interest. In Mexico, the legal landscape surrounding psilocybin has undergone significant changes in recent years. Psilocybin mushrooms are classified as a controlled substance here, making it illegal to possess, cultivate, or consume them. However, in April 2021, the Supreme Court of Mexico ruled in favor of an amparo (a Mexican legal protection) allowing a group of individuals to use psilocybin for therapeutic purposes. This landmark decision represented a significant shift in the country’s approach to psychedelic substances, and paved the way for further exploration of psilocybin’s medical potential.

While the Supreme Court’s ruling in Mexico marked a groundbreaking step, it is important to note that it currently applies only to the specific individuals involved in the case. However, it set a precedent and opens the door for others to seek similar legal protections. Advocates are now working toward comprehensive drug policy reform that includes broader access to psilocybin for therapeutic purposes. Efforts are underway to foster dialogue with policymakers and promote evidence-based discussions around the benefits and risks associated with psilocybin-assisted therapies.

Mexico is not alone in exploring the therapeutic applications of psilocybin. Several countries around the world have recognized its potential and have implemented legal frameworks to facilitate its medical use. One notable example is the United States, where several cities — such as Denver, Colorado, and Oakland, California — have decriminalized psilocybin. In addition, in 2020, the state of Oregon passed Measure 109, allowing licensed facilities to administer psilocybin therapy under controlled conditions. This represents a significant milestone in the medical acceptance of psilocybin within the United States.

Canada has granted exemptions for patients with terminal illnesses to access psilocybin therapy, recognizing its potential to alleviate end-of-life distress. Brazil has a longstanding tradition of using ayahuasca, a brew that often contains DMT, another hallucinogenic compound, in religious ceremonies. The country has recognized the cultural and spiritual significance of these substances, which has opened doors for broader discussions of their potential therapeutic value.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. Individuals should always consult with qualified professionals regarding the use of psilocybin or any other substance for medical purposes, taking into account the applicable laws and regulations of their jurisdiction.

Sonora sandstorm causes minor damage but puts on major show

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MND Staff

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July 21, 2023

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Sandstorm in Sonora Mexico — Scenes like this hit the beaches of San Carlos, 20 km northwest of the municipality of Guaymas. (Social media)

A spectacular sandstorm toppled trees and utility poles in Sonora on Thursday, but no casualties were reported.

The state government said Friday that trees and poles came down in Guaymas and Empalme, municipalities on Sonora’s Gulf of California coast. Authorities also said that parts of the municipality of Hermosillo were affected by the storm.

Sandstorm in Sonora — No casualties were reported, but the storm did damage trees and utility poles, and put on a visceral display of nature’s power in the Guaymas and Empalme municipalities. (Screen capture)

There were electricity outages in both Guaymas and Empalme due to damage caused by the meteorological phenomenon, which was captured in photographs and videos posted to social media.

The government said late Friday morning that power restoration in both municipalities was 55% complete and that full service was expected to resume in the afternoon.

The Sonora Civil Protection authority said on Twitter that its personnel helped to remove obstacles from roads after the storm passed.

Among the locations affected by the sandstorm was San Carlos, a beach town about 20 kilometers northwest of the port city of Guaymas.

Así fue como un rayo impactó en un poste durante la tormenta de arena en Guaymas, Sonora. CFE informó que ya se restableció el servicio de energía eléctrica en un 53% #VIDEO: Especial pic.twitter.com/3lMKGiiWKN

— El Universal (@El_Universal_Mx) July 21, 2023

“It got really apocalyptic,” San Carlos resident and Twitter user @Rada_SC wrote above an image of sand sweeping across the sky.

He said that “extremely strong gusts of wind with dust darkened everything and took … [his] drone,” which he managed to “miraculously recover.”

Governor Alfonso Durazo urged residents in affected areas to not leave their homes unless absolutely necessary and to remain calm.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, “sand and dust storms usually occur when strong winds lift large amounts of sand and dust from bare, dry soils into the atmosphere.”

The United Nations said last week that severe sand and dust storms were becoming “increasingly common, with UN climate experts attributing the rise to human-driven causes such as climate change and unsustainable farming practices.”

“To combat this, the UN has designated 12 July its first-ever International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms,” it added.

With reports from Infobae and El Sol de Hermosillo

AMLO-themed birthday party video takes TikTok by storm

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MND Staff

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July 21, 2023

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Fan of AMLO show in viral video at his AMLO-themed birthday party — The apparent AMLO fan, identified as "Jorge" in the video, is shown with his AMLO-themed cake and a life-sized cardboard cutout of President López Obrador.

Mexico has seen the Donald Trump piñata, and now the AMLO birthday cake has arrived.

A video posted to TikTok this week shows a man celebrating his birthday with a President López Obrador-themed party in his family home.

A life-sized cardboard cutout of López Obrador, a banner featuring the president and the words “Happy Birthday Jorge” and AMLO dolls and figurines all add to the atmosphere for the so-called “AMLOFest.”

But the pièce de résistance is perhaps the birthday cake topped with the familiar buck-toothed cartoon image of the 69-year-old leader wearing a suit and his presidential sash.

President Lopez Obrador-themed came — Those willing to fork over the cash can order their own AMLO-themed cake, complete with a fondant figurine of the president. (Pasteles Increibles)

“Feliz cumpleaños papá!” (Happy birthday, Dad!) reads a message superimposed on the 30-second video, which had been viewed over 325,000 times by midday Friday.

The video was uploaded by TikTok user dra.janis, who identifies herself as Janet Ballesteros. According to a location tag, it was filmed in Ecatepec, México state, where López Obrador’s Morena party won the gubernatorial election in June with its candidate Delfina Gómez.

AMLO will celebrate his 70th birthday on Nov. 13, less than a year before his term as president ends. Should he too want a cake adorned with his likeness, there is at least one for sale online, at the price of 1,430 pesos (US $84).

With reports from El Universal

Mexico’s estimated economic growth in June up 4% over last year

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MND Staff

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July 21, 2023

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Mexico City restaurant — Preliminary INEGI data indicates a 4.3% growth in the country's tertiary (services) sector for the month of June. (Foto de Regina Victorica en Unsplash)

Final data is expected to show that Mexico’s economy grew 4% in annual terms in June, the national statistics agency INEGI reported Thursday.

If confirmed, that level of year-over-year growth would be the best result since October last year, when GDP expanded 4.8%.

Employees at a Ford Motor Company factory in Chihuahua. The manufacturing sector expanded in June by 2.8%. (Government of Mexico)

INEGI said that 4.3% annual growth in the tertiary or services sector was expected in June, while a 2.8% expansion was anticipated in the secondary or manufacturing sector. The statistics agency didn’t provide a forecast for the primary sector.

President López Obrador said Thursday that the 4% growth figure anticipated by INEGI was “good news.”

“The economy of our country is growing, which is very important. There is no economic economic stagnation,” he told reporters at his morning press conference.

INEGI also reported that month-over-month growth in June was expected to be 0.2%. The annual growth anticipated for June is higher than the 3.6% year-over-year expansion forecast for May, but lower than the 0.4% month-over-month growth predicted for that month. INEGI will publish final data for May later this month.

AMLO press conference — The president highlighted economic growth indicators at the Friday morning press conference. (Gob MX)

The Mexican economy grew 3.3% annually in April after a 3.7% expansion in the first quarter of 2023.

The economy grew 3.1% in 2022, while López Obrador has asserted that GDP will expand by 4% this year. The World Bank last month updated its 2023 growth forecast for the Mexican economy to 2.5%, a significant improvement from the 0.9% prediction it made in January.

Meanwhile, the Mexican peso has depreciated this week after reaching its strongest position in almost eight years last Friday. Despite that, the USD-MXN exchange rate remains below 17.

The exchange rate at 11 a.m. Mexico City time Friday was 16.96 pesos to the greenback, according to Bloomberg.

With reports from El Financiero

Mérida to have its first official Magical Neighborhood

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MND Staff

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July 21, 2023

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Ermita de Santa Isabel, Merida, a yellow church — La Ermita in Mérida will become Mexico's ninth Barrio Mágico, according to the city's mayor. (Mario Morales Rubi/Wikimedia)

The La Ermita neighborhood in Mérida, Yucatán, is set to be the city’s first Barrio Mágico, or Magical Neighborhood — a recognition granted to some of Mexico’s most iconic locations.

According to Yucatán’s state Tourist Promotion Minister Michelle Fridman, Mexico’s Minister of Tourism Miguel Torruco will travel to the state next week to officially grant the award.

La ermita, Merida — The streets around La Ermita’s church are filled with brightly colored colonial buildings. (Mapio)

While the federal government has not officially named the neighborhood, Mérida Mayor Renán Barrera has previously suggested that it would be La Ermita.

Located in downtown Mérida, La Ermita is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, home to the Ermita de Santa Isabel, a small French-style cobblestone church built in the 18th century. The neighborhood’s quiet streets are framed by colorful colonial-style houses, while the botanical garden adjacent to the church displays a lush array of native greenery. The main plaza sells Mexican antojitos (snacks) at night.

The Barrio Mágico program was created by Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism in 2022 to promote tourism in Mexico’s major population centers. It’s a similar designation as the Pueblos Mágico (Magical Town), which highlights towns across Mexico with historical and cultural value. The Magical Town program has proven to be an important driver of tourism to its 177 towns in the country.

Fridman explained that as large cities are ineligible for the Pueblos Mágicos titles, “the Magical Neighborhoods program seeks to give the same benefits to certain locations or spaces within the cities.”

A swimming pool at a luxury hotel — Hotels in La Ermita, such as the Hotel Cigno, will see a tourism boost as a result of the designation. (De Viajeros/Twitter)

The designated neighborhoods will receive funding to renovate buildings and promote its tourism industry.

While the state’s authorities requested the recognition of eight historical neighborhoods in Mérida, the first stage of the program will only award one per city.

Excluding La Ermita, there are currently eight Magical Neighborhoods across Mexico, in the cities of Chetumal, Mexicali, Hermosillo, San Luis Potosí, Pachuca, Uruapan, Oaxaca City and Chilpancingo.

With reports from La Jornada Maya and Entorno Turístico.

Interpol issues red notices for García Luna’s wife and siblings

By

Cat Rainsford

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July 20, 2023

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Interpol police — The international law enforcement body issued a formal request for their arrest after the family members failed to appear in a Mexican court in May. (Interpol/Twitter)

Interpol has issued red notices for the arrest of the wife and two brothers of former Mexican security minister Genaro García Luna, who is currently in prison in the United States on charges of drug trafficking.

The three people are wanted in connection to crimes committed in Mexico that are unrelated to the U.S. drug trafficking charges for which García Luna was convicted in February.

Mexico's former security minister Genaro Garcia Luna — García Luna was convicted by U.S. prosecutors of international cocaine distribution, among other charges. His attorneys have been granted more time to pursue potentially favorable new evidence they say has come to light since the conviction in February. (File photo by Tercero Diaz/Cuartoscuro)

According to the Mexican Attorney General’s Office (FGR), García Luna’s siblings and his wife Cristina Pereyra are suspected of involvement in one of three cases being brought against García Luna in Mexico.

The case concerns 10 allegedly fraudulent contracts to provide technological services to Mexican federal prisons, amounting to 5.1 billion pesos (US $302 million).

Pereyra is currently living in the U.S., where she accompanied her husband during his trial in New York in March. Justifying her decision to move from Mexico to Miami, she told the court: “We wanted our children to have a normal life.”

A Mexican federal judge ordered the arrest of Pereyra and García Luna’s brothers in May, along with 60 people accused of involvement in the embezzlement scheme. When they failed to appear in court, the FGR requested that Interpol issue red notices for their arrest.

Pablo Gómez Álvarez, head of Mexico’s federal Financial Intelligence Unit, revealed this year that García Luna orchestrated an embezzlement network of 44 international companies. (lopezobrador.org.mx)

Though a red notice may lead to an arrest, it is considered a formal request, and it is ultimately up to the discretion of the Interpol member country whether or not to arrest the person. This distinguishes it from an international warrant.

After Interpol issued the red notices, President López Obrador called on former President Felipe Calderón to break his silence about the charges against García Luna, who served as security minister in Calderón’s government.

“He should say that it’s all false, that it was an invention of the government, of the U.S. Attorney General’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. [If] what is said about García Luna isn’t true, defend him. Or say ‘I made a mistake,’” AMLO said.

García Luna faces two additional arrest warrants in Mexico. One is for the “Fast and the Furious” case, named after a controversial police operation that allowed 2,500 weapons to be trafficked from the U.S. to Mexico between 2009 and 2011.

Its stated aim was to use the arms to trace drug traffickers, but the illegal arms trafficking network it created only gave more power to the criminals.

The second warrant is for the fictitious construction and operation of several federal prisons, through which García Luna allegedly embezzled 64.9 billion pesos (US $3.84 billion).

United States authorities have not commented on Interpol’s request.

With reports from López Doriga and El País

Qualcomm to open operations facility in Tijuana

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MND Staff

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July 20, 2023

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qualcomm_building_and_sign_19478_0previewlarge — Qualcomm is coming to Baja California, along with nascent initiatives to train a semiconductor workforce in the border states. (Qualcomm)

Semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm Technologies will open its first facility in Tijuana as soon as next fall, according to a statement made by Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.

In the joint statement, Ávila Olmeda and Caristiano Amon said the operations center will focus on engineering for internal research and development projects.

Intel Guadalajara Design Center in Guadalajara, Jalisco — The United States’ new CHIPS bill offers financial incentives to companies engaged in US semiconductor, or chip, production. For Mexico, that means more manufacturers may seek to supplement their supply chain south of the border. (Intel Latin America)

“We’re very pleased to expand Qualcomm Technologies operations and engineering footprint to Tijuana and to strengthen our presence and commitment in Mexico,” the Executive Vice-president and Head of Supply Chain and Operations for Qualcomm Roawen Chen said. “Access to engineering talent in the Baja California region was key in this decision,” he added.

Based out of San Diego, United States, and with operations in over 30 countries, Qualcomm powers the cellular connection of smartphones and tablets around the world. Besides semiconductors, or chips, its product catalog includes processors, modems, RF systems, 5G, 4G, legacy connectivity solutions, and optimized software.

In a statement, Ávila Olmeda said that Baja California is developing infrastructure projects, such as ports and roadways, that will facilitate the operations of Qualcomm and other multinational companies in the state.

“These actions will streamline the movement of goods and people, facilitating the operations of Qualcomm as well as other companies that operate in Baja California,” Ávila Olmeda said.

The Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) is prepared to meet the emerging labor demand for chip engineers, with plans for a new specialized degree at two campuses. (Wikimedia Commons)

Earlier in July, Baja California’s Economy and Innovation Minister Kurt Honold Morales said that a German semiconductor manufacturing company will also establish a plant in the state. However, he gave no further details as to the name of the company or when it would arrive.

He also added that, to attract new companies, the state needs to invest in more talent, in hydraulic infrastructure and electricity, and in the transfer of hydrogen and gas to industrial plants.

To encourage the development of new talent, the rector of the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre said that starting in the new school year, the Mexicali campus will launch a Semiconductor and Microelectronic Engineering degree with a first class of 15 students, followed by the Valle de las Palmas campus in Tijuana.

Qualcomm’s announced arrival in Mexico comes one year after the United States signed the CHIPS bill to expand semiconductor manufacturing in the region.

The bill includes an investment of US $500 million in international cooperation, which is aimed at developing manufacturing capacity and workforce training in border states.

With reports from El Sol de Tijuana, ASU and El Sol de Tijuana

Mexico, US announce plan for worker rights at Goodyear SLP plant

By

MND Staff

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July 20, 2023

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Goodyear global headquarters — The independent Mexican union La Liga had reported the abuse of workers' rights at Goodyear San Luis Potosí city factory. (Goodyear)

Mexico and the United States have agreed on a “course of remediation” to address a situation at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company plant in San Luis Potosí in which workers’ rights have been denied.

The announcement on Wednesday of the “plan to remediate denials of rights” came almost two months after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) asked Mexico to investigate a claim from independent union La Liga that Goodyear — an Ohio-based company — had been abusing workers’ rights at its plant in San Luis Potosí city.

goodyear employees in Mexico — Employees, who voted to terminate their bargaining contract with Goodyear earlier this year, said that their union had not followed workers’ wishes. (Government of Mexico)

Announcing the plan, the USTR noted that it had asked Mexico to “review whether Goodyear was failing to provide workers with the beneficial terms of an existing sector-wide agreement (contrato ley) in place for the rubber manufacturing industry.”

“Mexico accepted the request and concluded that workers at the facility are being denied their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining,” the USTR said in a statement.

The agreed “course of remediation” — reached in accordance with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Facility-Specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism — consists of 11 different points.

According to the USTR statement, the government of Mexico will:

Goodyear factory — The agreement lists many requirements, including that the Government of Mexico will conduct in-person workers’ rights trainings with employees. (Goodyear)

Ensure that Goodyear distributes copies of and applies the sector-wide agreement (contrato ley) at its San Luis Potosí plant.
Ensure that Goodyear continues to apply any and all wages and benefits currently provided to covered workers that are superior to the terms of the contrato ley.
Ensure that Goodyear adequately compensates covered workers for any wages or benefits they didn’t receive as a result of Goodyear’s failure to apply the contrato ley.
Ensure that Goodyear posts, disseminates to workers, and abides by a public statement acknowledging its commitment to respect the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining and affirming its neutrality and noninterference in union activities.
Ensure that Goodyear issues transparent guidelines explaining the rights it will provide to union representatives and advisors and trains all company personnel on the company guidelines and neutrality commitments, as well as the rights to collective bargaining, freedom of association, and the contrato ley.
Ensure that Goodyear posts information about how workers can file complaints with the company and the Government of Mexico related to violations of their rights.
Inform workers of the reasons that led the Government of Mexico to determine there is an ongoing denial of rights at the facility, as well as the scope and content of the Course of Remediation.
Conduct in-person workers’ rights training for all company personnel.
Monitor the facility to ensure compliance with the course of remediation and Mexican laws related to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
If warranted based on this monitoring, initiate sanctions proceedings, in accordance with Mexican law, and if applicable, impose the corresponding sanctions on persons, labor organizations, or the company.
Publish and disseminate materials that explain key issues related to the rights of workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining, including the law related to and existence of contrato ley, to increase public awareness on the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers, particularly at facilities covered by a contrato ley.

The course of remediation is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 19, 2024, according to the agreement between Mexico and the United States.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that the course of remediation is “aimed at remedying violations of workers’ rights at the Goodyear facility.”

“The United States will closely monitor the plan’s implementation. I commend the government of Mexico for its commitment to bringing this facility into compliance with Mexico’s labor law and for raising awareness of the applicability of the contrato ley across the sector,” she added.

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. Katherine Tai Twitter

Mexico’s Economy Ministry and Labor Ministry said in a joint statement that Goodyear “cooperated fully” with Mexican and U.S. authorities during a review of its San Luis Potosí plant, and affirmed its commitment to labor and union rights including those to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

The USTR noted that the bilateral Goodyear plan “marks the fourth time the United States and Mexico have agreed on a formal course of remediation” under the USMCA’s Facility-Specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM).

“This course of remediation is the result of the commitment of the U.S. and Mexican Governments to workers’ rights. It represents a success for the workers in the facility and demonstrates the continued impact of the RRM,” it said.

Mexico News Daily