An INAH reproduction of Chimalhuacán Man, a prehistoric skull from the Holocene Era discovered in the Valley of Mexico in 1984. Until recently, it was the only human remains from the era found in the Valley of Mexico. (INAH)
In 1984, archeologists found the 10,500-year-old skull of a prehistoric human skull in Chimalhuacán, México state, which for the next 40 years became the first and only pre-ceramic human remains found in the Valley of Mexico — that is until the recent discovery of “Yotzin,” a prehistoric human skeleton of a hunter-gatherer male that INAH estimated Tuesday is at least 10,000 years old.
But the soil layer in which Yotzin was found could place it as older, even possibly the oldest human remains ever to be found in the Valley of Mexico.
The skull of “Yotzin,” a prehistoric human skeleton found in México state during the construction of Felipe Ángeles International Airport. (Mauricio Murat/INAH)
Yotzin, found during the construction of Felipe Ángeles International Airport, will undoubtedly provide archaeologists with important information about human evolution in the region. But he also could turn out to be the oldest human remains found in the Valley of Mexico.
INAH announced Tuesday that while it has yet to carbon date the remains, it’s currently estimating the skeleton, based on its physical features, to be around 10,000 years old, from between the late Pleistocene Era and the early Holocene Era.
INAH physical anthropologist Arturo Talavera González said that Yotzin has an elongated skull and wide jaws, suggesting that he belonged to late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer groups, before the first known settler civilizations in the area.
Marks found on Yotzin’s bones, along with its “poorly flattened femurs and transverse flattening of the tibia,” indicate intense physical activity, such as long walks and the use of teeth to wear down various materials, Talavera said. These features, which tended to decrease with the arrival of agriculture and a more sedentary lifestyle, are characteristic of primitive hunter-gatherer peoples.
“If an individual shows signs of wear and tear on their teeth but no cavities, it could indicate a pre-ceramic diet,” he said.
If INAH’s current estimates are correct, Yotzin would be about the same age as Chimalhuacán Man, which INAH dates at 10,500 years old. The soil in which Yotzin was discovered, however, could indicate that the prehistoric skeleton is significantly older.
The layer of soil in which Yotzin was found appears to correspond to an interglacial warming period that occurred between 13,000 and 20,000 years ago, according to INAH biologist Lauro González Quintero.
INAH’s preliminary report states that scientists need to confirm Yotzin’s exact age and validate his place in the chronology of the Valley of Mexico’s first settlers. Researchers also hope to soon conduct the next phase of research on the site in which Yotzin was found, known as Santa Lucia M3, in the town of San Mateo Xóloc.
U.S. President Joe Biden announced the new immigration policy on Tuesday at a press conference. (The White House/X)
Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans could benefit from new immigration rules in the United States that will allow certain undocumented spouses and children of U.S. citizens to apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the country.
United States President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would take action to ensure that U.S. citizens with noncitizen spouses and children can keep their families together.
“The steps I’m taking today are overwhelmingly supported by the American people, no matter what the other team says,” he said at an event at the White House.
“In fact, polls show that over 70% of Americans support this effort to keep families together,” Biden said.
To qualify for the program, undocumented adult noncitizens must have lived in the United States for 10 years or more as of June 17, and must be legally married to a U.S. citizen, “while satisfying all applicable legal requirements,” according to a White House Fact Sheet.
They wouldn’t be eligible if they have a disqualifying criminal record or are considered a public security threat.
The new policy will allow for noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens an easier path to permanent residency and will mostly benefit Mexicans living in the United States. (Shutterstock)
Undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens are already eligible for lawful permanent residence in the United States, but they must apply from outside the country. That often entails leaving their jobs and families to exit the United States indefinitely without any certainty they will be authorized to re-enter.
Under the new rules, “those who are approved after DHS’s case-by-case assessment of their application will be afforded a three-year period to apply for permanent residency,” the White House said.
“They will be allowed to remain with their families in the United States and be eligible for work authorization for up to three years. This will apply to all married couples who are eligible,” it added.
The White House said that Biden’s executive action will protect around half a million spouses of U.S. citizens and “approximately 50,000 noncitizen children under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.”
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas spoke to MSNBC about the new executive action. (Screen capture)
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said the program “will achieve family unity, one of our immigration system’s fundamental goals.”
“It will also boost our economy, advance our labor interests, strengthen our foreign relations with key partners in the region, further our public safety interests, and more,” he added.
The announcement of the new immigration policy came two weeks after Biden issued an executive order that prevents migrants from making asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border at times when crossings between legal ports of entry surge.
The U.S. president acknowledged that the majority of likely beneficiaries of the spouse program would be Mexicans.
The program — which is set to commence in the coming months — is the largest to benefit undocumented migrants in the United States since the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, policy implemented by the administration of former U.S. President Barack Obama.
Reuters described Biden’s new policy as “an election-year move that contrasts sharply with Republican rival Donald Trump’s plan for mass deportations.”
Earlier this month, Biden had announced more restrictive measures on asylum seekers at the Mexico border. (White House)
CNN said “the action is aimed at appealing to key Latino constituencies in battleground states, including Arizona, Nevada and Georgia, that will be crucial for Biden’s chances to claim a second term.”
Trump could revoke the policy if he succeeds in winning a second term as U.S. president, while the program “will almost certainly face legal challenges,” Reuters said.
President López Obrador said that the Biden policy is “worthy of recognition.” (Lopezobrador.org.mx)
“We’ve been insisting on the regularization of Mexicans who have been working honorably in the United States for years,” he said.
López Obrador acknowledged that many undocumented Mexicans in the United States won’t benefit from the new rules, but described the program for the spouses and children of U.S. citizens as a “step forward.”
“I’m pleased that President Biden is doing it,” he said.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry (SRE) noted in a statement that some 500,000 spouses and 50,000 children of U.S. citizens could benefit from the new scheme, and highlighted that “the vast majority” of that number are “Mexican or Mexican-American.”
Roberto Velasco, head of the SRE’s North America department, said that as many as 400,000 Mexicans could obtain permanent residency in the U.S. through the program and eventually become American citizens.
The SRE said that the new “protections” would “prevent the separation of families and contribute greater stability and certainty to their future.”
Roberto Velasco from the Foreign Affairs Ministry said this action could potentially benefit up to 400,000 Mexicans who live in the United States. (SRE/X)
“Mexico has repeatedly stated that one of its highest priorities in the bilateral relationship is the protection and regularization of our nationals in the United States,” the ministry said.
“We view the measures announced today in a positive light and are certain that strengthening our relationship under a policy of good neighborliness, respecting the sovereignties of our peoples and promoting economic cooperation is the right path for ensuring safe, orderly, regular and humane migration,” the SRE said.
The ministry also acknowledged a U.S. government announcement on Tuesday that will benefit DACA recipients known as Dreamers.
The Biden administration said it was “easing the visa process for U.S. college graduates, including Dreamers.”
“Today’s announcement will allow individuals, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, who have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education in the United States, and who have received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, to more quickly receive work visas,” the White House said.
Water supply to the metropolitan area will be shut down for six hours on Wednesday night, affecting 12 of Mexico City's 16 boroughs. (Cuartoscuro)
Water supply to the Mexico City metropolitan area from the Cutzamala reservoir system will be suspended for six hours Wednesday night, as water authorities repair a “sudden” leak in one of the control valves of the system.
To reduce the impact on residents, repair works will commence at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and finish at 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, the National Water Commission (Conagua) said in a statement. The Cutzamala system supplies about 28% of the capital’s water, but the shutdown will affect 12 of the city’s 16 boroughs, and 16 municipalities in the State of México.
Water levels at the reservoir in Valle de Bravo are at just 28% capacity. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
“Works to repair the damaged part and restore operation require a total shutdown of the system for approximately six hours. In that period of time, the water supply to the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico will be completely suspended,” Conagua said.
The repair works will be carried out on one of the control valves of the Number 4 pump at Plant 5 of the Cutzamala system.
For its part, the Water Basin Organization of the Valley of Mexico (OCAVM) has urged the population to use water more efficiently as the city faces scarcity and temporary supply reductions as a result of the upcoming infrastructure repairs.
What is the Cutzamala system?
The Cutzamala System is one of the largest water supply sources in the country. It is a complex network of reservoirs built between the late 1970s and 1994, supplying water from the Cutzamala River to the Mexico City and Valley of Toluca metropolitan areas.
The system relies on seven reservoirs, six pumping plants, 322 kilometers of canals and tunnels, and a large water treatment plant. Carrying water from the Cutzamala basin up more than 1,100 meters in elevation, the system provides nearly 15 cubic meters of water per second to the Valley of Mexico’s sprawling population.
While it is considered an impressive feat of engineering in Mexico, the four-decade old system has been affected by the effects of time and earthquakes, which have caused damage to the pipes. Studies show that more than 40% of the system’s water is lost through leaks. Moreover, the system’s reservoirs are at low capacity due to extreme heat and low rainfall.
In March, the system’s largest reservoir Valle de Bravo (which has a capacity of 394.4 million cubic meters) was at its lowest level since 2016, at merely 28% full.
The storage levels of Valle de Bravo and the rest of the system’s reservoirs are expected to slowly increase as the rainy season begins.
The distinctive whistle of the "afila cuchillos" is a part of every day city life - but one that is increasingly in danger. (Isaac Esquivel/Cuartoscuro)
If you’ve ever spent time in one of Mexico’s bustling cities, you’ve likely heard the distinct sound of a knife sharpener passing through the street. A shrill, piping sound that announces the arrival of an artisan ready to make your knives and other industrial instruments useful once again. Knife sharpeners are part of a group of specific jobs that not only provide valuable services but also contribute in a significant way to Mexico’s street and neighborhood culture.
Knife sharpening, like many other traditional jobs, forms a part of Mexico’s informal economy. These professions are often heralded by specific tunes, making it easy for residents to identify them from inside their homes or high up in apartment buildings. As the world modernizes, these jobs are unfortunately increasingly obsolete and slowly disappearing. Sounds that once filled the air multiple times a day are now heard perhaps only once a week.
Once an essential part of everyday life, traveling knife sharpeners are now an endangered species. (Isaac Esquivel/Cuartoscuro)
Quintessential to this disappearing trade, knife sharpeners go through the city atop a bicycle, which serves not only as their mode of transportation but also as an indispensable part of their toolkit. Different from other bicycles, those used by knife sharpeners are equipped with a metallic structure that elevates the back tire off the ground, keeping the bike stationary. The back wheel, when elevated and pedalled in place, powers a grinding wheel of stone or metal that sharpens knives, scissors, and other tools. This results in a portable and effective setup that enables knife sharpeners to travel across whole cities on the same day.
The accompanying sound to these artisans’ presence emanates from an instrument known in Mexico as a “caramillo.” This flute-like instrument dates back to medieval times, is also known in other Spanish-speaking countries as chifre, chiflo, or flauta de pan.
Originally made from wood or cane, the caramillo is now often crafted from plastic. The sound that comes out of it is more than just a call to customers; it is a cultural marker and one of the many distinctive sounds of the Mexico City streets. For many, it is also a comforting reminder of the enduring presence of traditional trades amidst the rapid pace of modern life.
It’s very simple to use a knife sharpener’s services and renew some of your commonplace kitchen and household items. Once you hear a caramillo, all you need to do is walk outside into the street with whatever item needs sharpening. Price is set by each artisan and varies, of course.
The profession has survived so far, but knife sharpeners are facing significant challenges. The easy availability and disposability of goods, as well as the existence of cheap and mass-produced knives considerably reduce the need and demand for sharpening services. More and more, it seems like the convenience of buying new items often outweighs the “inconvenience” of waiting for a traveling sharpener.
Yet, they persist. Some of these artisans follow the family trade and learn the skills and techniques from family members, keeping the tradition alive from previous generations. One of the most important reasons why they continue, apart from cultural significance, is the environmental benefit of knife sharpening. Renewing and re-sharpening your knives contributes to reducing waste and promoting sustainability. In an era of increasing environmental consciousness, the wait for the sound of a caramillo passing through your street instead of a trip to a hardware store could just well be worth it.
If you look closely, knife sharpeners are much more than their trade, their bicycle or their caramillo. Upon further examination, they can tell you much about Mexico, its people, and its culture. They are a representation of a culture whose necessity is quickly transformed into resourcefulness and adaptability in a way that is valued highly enough to stave off modernity.
Whether you have a sharpening need or not, next time you hear a sharpener passing by, take a moment to appreciate the cultural significance of this craft. Think about how they connect neighborhoods, and how, as they continue to navigate the streets and sharpen the streets of Mexico, they preserve a slice of history — reminding mexicans and the rest of the world the value of tradition in an ever-changing world.
Montserrat Castro Gómez is a freelance writer and translator from Querétaro, México.
Budget carrier Volaris is set to link one of Mexico's top party destinations with the United States' greatest party destination. (Leo Visions/Unsplash)
Mexican budget airline Volaris will offer direct flights between Tijuana, Baja California and Las Vegas, Nevada, starting Oct. 29. The flights will be operated three days a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, according to Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda.
“At Volaris, we are constantly looking to increase travel options and provide unparalleled flight experiences to meet high potential markets like Las Vegas,” said Holger Blankenstein, executive vice president of Volaris.
Flights to Las Vegas will begin on October 29, the airline announced. (Airbus)
The state of Nevada is the third largest market for U.S. visitors to Baja California, after California and Arizona, according to Miguel Aguiñiga Rodríguez, the Baja California tourism minister.
“This new route will be a direct bridge between these two important economic destinations, which will also allow us to continue strengthening cultural ties between both nations,” he said.
The Tijuana-Las Vegas route is part of Volaris’ expansion strategy in Mexico, the U.S. and Latin America. Other new routes Volaris has announced this year include El Salvador to Miami; San José, Costa Rica to Guadalajara; and Cancún to McAllen, Texas. Volaris is Mexico’s biggest airline, flying 24.3 million passengers in 2023.
In February, American Airlines launched a non-stop route between Phoenix, Arizona and Tijuana, marking the city’s first direct flight to the U.S. in seven years, after the closure of the Volaris Tijuana-Oakland route.
The addition of new direct flights between Tijuana and cities in the U.S. arrives at a time when Tijuana is seeing a drop in tourism. According to the head of the city’s Tourism and Conventions Committee, since the start of the year, medical tourism is down by 50% while restaurants are seeing 45% fewer U.S. visitors, resulting in a 30% drop in profits.
In an interview with CBS, Karim Chalita Rodríguez blamed low tourism numbers on security concerns among U.S. citizens, a weak dollar versus the Mexican peso and bad weather.
Will Mexico City's wells run dry by the end of the month? (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
In February, media outlets started blaring warnings about an impending “Day Zero” when Mexico City would run out of water. Lingering drought and extreme heat are conspiring to threaten the most populous city in North America with a disaster of epic proportions.
While the Mexican capital may be starved of precious water, the situation is not as dire as some news might suggest. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
It’s true that the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (ZMVM) is desperate for water. Years of low rainfall have pushed an already strained delivery system to its limit. Record setting temperatures have worsened the situation.
Lost in most headlines, however, was the fact that Day Zero refers specifically to the Cutzamala system, which supplies about 28% of Mexico City’s water. To be clear, that system is facing a very real threat of becoming inoperable if action is not taken, or if a generous rainy season doesn’t blow into the valley.
While solutions are being formulated, this doesn’t mean the ZMVM is free and clear. Sixty percent of Mexico City’s water comes from an overexploited aquifer that is being depleted at twice its recharge rate and could run dry in 40 years. But the subject of Day Zero fears is the aging hydraulic system that pumps water vast distances uphill to 12 of Mexico City’s 16 boroughs and 16 neighboring municipalities.
What is the Cutzamala system?
The Valley of Mexico is a highland plateau surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. Present-day Mexico City sits in this basin, once home to five interconnected lakes when the Spanish arrived in 1519, eventually conquering Tenochtitlán in 1521.
Valley of Tenochtitlan, as seen by Cortez in the early days of the Spanish conquest. (Noticonquista UNAM)
For four centuries, the lakes were drained for flood control, while wells and aquifers were used for drinking water. Early last century, scientists observed that the extraction was contributing to the city’s sinking up to 40 centimeters a year into the old lakebed of Lake Texcoco. The exploitation of aquifers within the city was banned and new wells were excavated on the city’s outskirts, but that was insufficient to quench the thirst of the rapidly growing metropolis.
In the 1940s, a system of aqueducts was built to bring water from the nearby Lerma River basin northwest of the capital, but problems arose when area residents protested the extraction of what they saw as their water. By the 1960s, the more distant Cutzamala River basin was seen as a solution and in 1976, the pipes, pumping stations and reservoirs of an existing México state hydroelectric system were turned over to the Cutzamala project, converting the works from energy generator to water provider.
The result was a complex inter-basin transfer relying on 11 dams, seven reservoirs, six pumping plants and 322 kilometers of canals, tunnels and pipelines that carry water from the Cutzamala basin up more than 1,100 meters in elevation difference through Michoacán, México state and Mexico City: the Cutzamala system we know today. Considered one of the most significant engineering works in all of Mexico, it provided nearly 15 cubic meters of water per second to meet the needs of the massive population in the Valley of Mexico.
The infrastructure has not aged well, and studies show that more than 40% of the water is lost throughleaks. The system’s reservoirs are losing water due to extreme heat and drought is shrinking the rivers that feed it.
The Cutzamala damn system, which is subject to the “Day Zero” furore.. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Then came headlines about dwindling water supplies in the reservoirs. The Valle de Bravo and Villa Victoria reservoirs — the two biggest in the Cutzamala system — had shrunk to their lowest levels in 25 years and extraction was reduced by half. The entire Cutzamala system lost 6.22 million cubic meters of water in early April and was at a historically low 30% of capacity, within range of the limit at which the pumps would grind to a halt.
Additionally, researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) presented a far-reaching proposal to address Mexico City’s water crisis. The project includes intensive water capture and artificially recharging the aquifer by injecting surface water directly into the ground. It encourages the use of treated residual waters in agriculture, as only 75% of irrigated lands in the Valley use treated water and less than 12% of that water is reused. The project is estimated to cost 97 billion pesos.
While these are positive steps, increased water rationing is inevitable in the foreseeable future and additional strategies must be found to avoid a real Day Zero scare. Either that or consider renewing sacrifices to Tlaloc, the Mexica god of rain.
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum shared the judicial reform poll results on Monday, and met with Morena lawmakers on Tuesday, who will have majorities in both houses of Congress in September. (Cuartoscuro)
A large majority of Mexicans are in favor of the controversial judicial reform proposal submitted to Congress by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, according to the results of three polls commissioned by the ruling Morena party.
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced the results of the polls at a press conference on Monday.
Sheinbaum announced the poll results at a press conference on Monday. (Cuartoscuro)
The judicial reform proposal — which seeks to allow citizens to directly elect Supreme Court justices and other judges, among other objectives — was sent to Congress in February as part of a large package of proposed constitutional changes.
Since Morena’s comprehensive victory in the June 2 elections, concerns over the likelihood of the approval of the reform proposals — particularly the judicial one — have caused the Mexican peso to depreciate around 8% against the US dollar.
Critics say that some of the proposals, including one to disband a number of autonomous government agencies, will reduce checks and balances on executive power in Mexico.
Sheinbaum supports the proposals, but pledged last week that there would be “broad consultation” before they are considered by the new Congress, which will be sworn in Sept. 1.
The surveys — conducted by the polling companies De las Heras and Enkoll, and Morena’s Polling Commission, at homes across the country — are part of the consultation process.
A total of more than 3,800 people responded to the three surveys, which were conducted between June 14 and 16.
The margin of error was between +/- 2.57% and +/- 2.9%, while the confidence level was 95%, according to the two polling companies and Morena’s Polling Commission.
4 in 5 respondents believe the judicial reform is necessary
Over 80% of respondents to the Enkoll (83%) and Morena (81%) polls said they believed that carrying out the judicial reform is necessary, while 77% of those polled by De las Heras said the same.
The ruling party posted the poll results to social media. This graphic shows the results from respondents answering the question “Do you think it’s necessary to reform the judiciary or not?” (Morena/X)
The percentage of respondents who said the reform wasn’t necessary ranged from 12%-14%, while the remainder of those polled didn’t respond or didn’t have an opinion one way or the other.
Of note is that around half of those polled — 54%, 51% and 49%, according to the different polls — hadn’t heard of the proposed reform before they were asked about in the survey.
However, the majority of those people were evidently not dissuaded from expressing support for the proposed reform, despite their lack of knowledge about it.
López Obrador argues that Mexico’s judiciary is at the service of the nation’s elite rather than ordinary people, and that it needs renewal. Sheinbaum agrees.
A key aim of the proposal is to allow citizens to elect Supreme Court justices from candidates nominated by the sitting president, the Congress and sitting Supreme Court justices themselves.
Among its other objectives are to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices from 11 to nine, to shorten their terms from 15 years to 12, and to cap their maximum permitted salary at the same level as that earned by the president.
Referring to the survey results, Sheinbaum said Monday that “a very high percentage of the population believes that it is necessary” to overhaul the judiciary.
Around 7 in 10 respondents believe citizens should elect Supreme Court justices and other judges
Respondents to the three polls were specifically asked how Supreme Court (SCJN) justices should be chosen, and how other judges and magistrates should be selected.
The president appointed Lenia Batres to the Supreme Court, after the Senate failed to approve any of his nominees. (Senator Ana Lilia Rivera/X)
Exactly three-quarters of respondents to both the Enkoll and Morena polls said that the Mexican people should elect SCJN justices, while 68% of those polled by De las Heras said the same.
Between 18% and 25% of the respondents said that the Senate should elect the justices, as is currently the case. A short list of three candidates are submitted to the Senate by the sitting president when a position for a justice becomes available.
However, late last year, López Obrador directly appointed Lenia Batres Guadarrama as a SCJN justice after the Senate on two occasions failed to endorse any of the candidates he put forward. It was the first time in Mexican history that a president made a direct appointment.
Asked how lower-ranking justices and magistrates should be chosen, around seven in 10 respondents again responded that citizens should elect them. Between 19%-24% of those polled said that the judicial power itself should choose the judges that preside over Mexico’s courts.
A majority of respondents believe all or most judges are corrupt
One in five of those polled by De las Heras said they believed that all justices, judges and magistrates are corrupt, while 17% of respondents to the Enkoll survey and 15% of those who spoke with Morena pollsters said the same.
Much larger numbers of people said that “the majority” of judges are corrupt: 44% (Enkoll); 40% (Morena) and 38% (De las Heras).
President López Obrador is a harsh and persistent critic of the judiciary. Here he shows a Supreme Court justice receiving a recognition from former President Calderón. (Cuartoscuro)
Thus 55%-61% of those polled either said that all or most judges are corrupt, sharing an opinion that López Obrador and other government officials have voiced on countless occasions.
Around three in 10 respondents (26%-34%) said that only a few judges are corrupt, while only 2%-5% of those polled said that no judges are corrupt. The remainder declined to share an opinion.
Almost 9 in 10 respondents support the creation of an independent judicial watchdog
The pollsters also asked respondents whether they agreed or disagreed with the creation of an independent body to oversee the judicial system, investigate alleged misdeeds and sanction judges where appropriate.
Between 85%-89% of respondents said they agreed with the idea, while only 7%-9% disagreed.
As the proposed judicial reform would change Mexico’s constitution, it requires support from two-thirds of lawmakers to pass Congress.
Morena and its allies won a supermajority in the lower house on June 2, but fell just short in the Senate, meaning that they will have to gain the support of a few opposition senators in order to approve constitutional reform proposals put forward by López Obrador and Sheinbaum, who will be sworn in as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1.
The USDA’s red light on inspections means that importation into the U.S. of Michoacán's avocadoes will be limited to items already inspected or that are currently in transit. (Cuartoscuro)
(Juan José Estrada/Cuartoscuro)
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pausing avocado inspections in Michoacán following what it called an unsafe incident in a rural part of the state involving two American inspectors.
Michoacán is Mexico’s No. 1 avocado producer and exporter.
Michoacán Gov. Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla downplayed the incident cited by the U.S. government, in its decision to pause avocado inspections, saying that the two inspectors were caught up in a civil demonstration and were never in real danger. (Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla/Twitter)
The pause in Michoacán avocado inspections also applies to mangoes grown in the state. Michoacán is Mexico’s second largest exporter state of mangoes to the U.S., according to the Mexican Association of Mango Producers and Exporters (EMEX). Michoacán was responsible for 19% of the 65.3 million cases of mangoes exported to the United States in 2023.
In conjunction with the announcement about the pause in avocado inspections, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert stating, “Due to recent security incidents in Aranza, Michoacán, the U.S. government reminds U.S. citizens not to travel to the state.”
It restated that its current travel advisory for Michoacán is “Level 4 — Do Not Travel due to crime and kidnapping.”
The USDA’s red light on inspections in the state means the import into the United States of Michoacán’s “green gold” — as avocados from the state are often referred to — will be limited to items that have already undergone inspection or are currently in transit.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Tuesday that a “sane solution is being sought … but it takes time.”
In a post on the X social media platform on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar confirmed that the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) had suspended inspections in Michoacán “until these safety issues have been resolved.”
US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, seen here (second from right) on June 11 with Mexico’s President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, United States Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall and others, said on Twitter on Tuesday that he’ll be in Michoacan next week to address security and other issues in the state. (Ken Salazar/Twitter)
“This pause does not affect other Mexican states, where APHIS inspections continue,” Salazar added. “This action does not block all exports of avocados or mangoes to the United States, nor does it stop products currently in transit.”
Salazar wrote that two APHIS employees “were recently attacked and detained while carrying out their work in the state of Michoacán inspecting avocados,” adding, “They are no longer in captivity.”
The incident reportedly occurred Friday during a blockade by community members in Aranza, a town in the municipality of Paracho. However, Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla disagreed with Salazar’s version and other published accounts of the incident.
Ramirez told the Ciro Gómez Leyva news radio program that the “two agents were never at any risk.” However, the newspaper El País wrote that Aranza community members “detained and beat” the two inspectors.
Bedolla agreed that some private vehicles were stopped during a “social demonstration,” including the one in which the inspectors were traveling. However, he said it was not due to their role as inspectors and that they were not physically harmed or harassed.
He did concede that the inspectors might have “felt attacked,” as might anyone when their car is “detained.”
Bedolla also expressed confidence Tuesday morning that the conflict over avocado inspections could be resolved within the next 48 hours — a stance that was seemingly contradicted by Ambassador Salazar’s post on X shortly thereafter.
“Next week, I will travel to Michoacán to meet with [Bedolla] and the Association of Producers and Export Packers of Mexico (APEAN) to address, among other important issues, security,” Salazar wrote.
Of the U.S. decision to pause Michoacán inspections, President López Obrador said, “Well, those are their policies. Fortunately, we have good relations [with the U.S., and] we are convincing them to act differently, but it takes time.”
According to El País, the U.S. imported 1.4 million tonnes of avocados from Mexico last year, a 17% increase over 2022. More than 80% of the avocados produced in Mexico are exported to the U.S. Overall avocado production in Mexico this year is predicted to be 2.7 million tonnes, with 73% of that total coming from Michoacán.
The United States also halted Michoacán avocado inspections twice in 2022, also for safety concerns.
The first suspension occurred after a Uruapan-based inspector received a threatening call to his official cell phone; the second was implemented due to violence in Michoacán, one of six Mexican states categorized as “do not travel to” by the U.S. State Department.
Tesla's newest alcoholic beverage product is Tesla Mezcal — which sells for US $450 per lightning-shaped bottle on the Tesla Mezcal website. Launched last week, it's already out of stock. (Tesla Mezcal)
Tesla may not be building its gigafactory yet in the northern state of Nuevo León, but we now know that Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company is producing mezcal, Mexico’s famed agave spirit.
Following in the footsteps of Tesla Tequila — introduced in 2020 — last week Tesla Mezcal was launched, becoming its most expensive liquor yet, according to the news website Business Mexico Insider.
Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, which now sells its own mezcal. (Trevor Cokley/US Air Force)
The limited-release mezcal is priced at US $450 per bottle and is described on the Tesla website as “spicy, with a deep citrus and green apple nose that gives way to soft herbal notes with a delicate smokiness that lingers on the tongue.”
“It finishes with soft tuberose, jasmine and chamomile. Mouthfeel is balanced, yet strong with light bitter notes at the end.”
Tesla Mezcal’s hand-blown glass bottle — created by Tesla’s director of product design, Javier Verdura — is said to draw inspiration from centuries-old pottery traditions in Oaxaca. The 750-milliliter bottle has the shape of a lightning bolt, as did the gold bottle for Tesla Tequila, which sold at $250.
Tesla Mezcal is expected to be a popular collectible. As of Tuesday morning, the Tesla website listed the product as out of stock — even with purchases limited to two sets per customer. Those interested in purchasing the hard-to-get mezcal — which is only available for delivery in select U.S. states — should consult the website. There is no information regarding its availability in Mexico or other countries, according to the newspaper Infobae.
Musk’s mezcal is just the latest in celebrity-branded versions of the beverage. Rock-n-roller Sammy Hagar launched an 80-proof blend of mezcal and tequila called Santo Mezquila in 2017. Two years later, “Breaking Bad” TV series co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul launched their Dos Hombres mezcal brand.
The mezcal is produced for Tesla by California-based Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal and is derived from the fermentation of Espadín and Bicuishe agave varieties, according to USA Today, which also notes that the Tesla Mezcal features a rather low 43% alcohol content by volume.
The Tesla mezcal is made by a California producer, Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal. According to their website, Nosotros’ mezcal is Mexican, sourced in Jalisco. Pictured, left to right: Nosotros founders Michael Arbanas and Carlos Soto. (Bristol Farms)
Mezcal, along with tequila, is one of the most emblematic Mexican spirits. Both are made from the agave plant, though tequila can only be made from one variety while mezcal can be made from many. Exports of tequila and mezcal from Mexico were worth $621 million in the first two months of 2024, putting them among the top national agricultural exports.
Jorge Guajardo is the former Mexican ambassador to China (2007-13) and is now a partner in an advisory firm. Mexico News Daily asked him five questions about Mexico's economic potential. (Courtesy)
To get another viewpoint on Mexico’s current FDI situation, and its future opportunities, Mexico News Daily CEO Travis Bembenek and I spoke to Jorge Guajardo, Mexico’s longest serving ambassador to China (2007-13) and a former consul general in Austin, Texas.
Jorge is now a partner at DGA Group in Washington, D.C., where he provides strategic guidance to companies on risk, cyber security, market disruptions, and barriers to market entry in China and Latin America.
MND put five FDI-related questions to the former ambassador, a Monterrey native who keeps a close eye on political, economic and social developments in Mexico.
Will the foreign companies that have recently made investment announcements for Mexico follow through with their plans?
Guajardo essentially provided two answers to this question: one for Chinese companies and another for firms from other foreign countries.
Companies from the United States and Europe, for example, usually conduct “due diligence” before they commit to a project and therefore tend to make “more serious” investment announcements, he said.
On the other hand, China, and Chinese companies, have “a long history of making investment announcements they don’t follow up on,” Guajardo said.
Guajardo is skeptical of some of the Chinese investment announcements in Mexico. For example, Chinese EV maker BYD has announced plans this year to build a plant in Mexico. (BYD/Facebook)
Take China’s investment announcements in Mexico with “a huge grain of salt, a Rock of Gibraltar-sized grain of salt,” Guajardo said.
“China announces things without giving it much thought, they seldom actually go ahead. In China there is a saying that once you sign a contract that’s where the negotiation begins. … I’m not saying it as a criticism, it’s just they have a different way of doing business,” he said.
Given that firms from other foreign countries typically conduct ample research before they commit to a project, and considering that they are often public companies with a responsibility to report to their shareholders, Guajardo is confident that they will go ahead with the projects they announced during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency.
If they were confident enough to commit themselves to projects during AMLO’s administration, they won’t change their mind during the presidency of Claudia Sheinbaum, he said.
Regarding the proposed reforms López Obrador sent to Congress earlier this year — which have generated considerable concern in markets in the wake of Mexico’s recent elections — Guajardo noted that Morena and its allies didn’t win a supermajority in the Senate and therefore there is no ironclad guarantee they will be able to approve the proposals.
Even though there is a better than even chance that they will be able to bring over the missing votes from other parties, he said, this will be done on a case by case basis, without a blank check for Morena to proceed without having to build coalitions.
Guajardo added one caveat to his confidence about most foreign companies following through on their investment plans, noting that he expects more caution from auto sector companies, including Tesla, because of Chinese overcapacity in that sector and the possibility that those vehicles will be dumped all over the world.
Is it concerning that ‘new investment’ currently constitutes only a small percentage of overall FDI?
New investment accounted for just 3% of FDI in the first quarter of 2024, while the figure last year was 13%. The lion’s share of FDI in Mexico in those periods was “reinvestment of profits” by foreign companies that already have a presence here.
Some analysts have claimed that the low levels of new FDI are a cause for concern and evidence that Mexico hasn’t yet really benefited from nearshoring.
Danish toy giant Lego is set to invest a further US $200 million in its Monterrey site, which is its largest manufacturing facility globally. (Lego)
For his part, Guajardo said he was unconcerned about the low current levels of FDI.
Whether foreign companies’ outlay in Mexico is new investment or reinvestment of profits “makes no difference to me,” he said.
The expansion plans of companies such as automotive manufacturer Polaris and toy maker Lego in Nuevo León don’t represent “new investment” as classified by the Economy Ministry, but “the way they’re growing” is new, Guajardo said, noting that they are “building more capacity” and “hiring more people.”
If most companies that have recently made new investment announcements for Mexico do go ahead with their plans, as Guajardo believes they will, the “new investment” proportion of FDI will inevitably rise in the coming years.
What are the most attractive sectors for foreign investment in Mexico?
Mexico’s under-resourced energy sector is “the biggest immediate area of opportunity for foreign direct investment,” Guajardo said.
“… If I’m talking to foreign investors I would say the big area to keep an eye on is the energy sector. There’s a huge opportunity for generation and transmission,” he said.
Australia’s Woodside Energy is one large company currently investing and operating in Mexico’s energy sector. (Woodside Energy)
Guajardo said that the makeup of Sheinbaum’s team — she is due to name her cabinet this week — will be indicative of whether she wants to maintain AMLO’s “energy sovereignty” posture, or whether she is more pragmatic and seeks to address deficits in energy generation, especially clean energy generation, by allowing, and courting, greater private sector investment.
Beyond the energy sector, he said that the logistics industry represents another area of investment opportunity given that the desire to shorten supply chains is a major motivation for relocation to Mexico by foreign companies.
“That would be an area I’d be keeping an eye on,” Guajardo said, noting that there is already significant foreign investment in transport and warehousing projects in Mexico.
Will the depreciation of the peso spur foreign investment?
“My guess is most every exporting company in Mexico wanted a depreciation of the peso,” Guajardo said, referring to the recent drop in the value of the currency against the US dollar.
He said that a weaker peso — the currency has depreciated 8% against the greenback since the elections — puts winds in the sails of industry in Mexico because their exports are “more attractive.”
Guajardo said he was “quite bullish” on the opportunities that a weaker peso creates for Mexico, although he expressed consternation at the cause of the currency’s recent fall — i.e. Morena’s comprehensive election win and concerns about the party’s proposed constitutional changes.
Mexico needs a weaker peso “to prop up industry,” he added.
“Countries don’t become big by consuming more, they become big by producing more,” Guajardo said.
What do you see as the biggest barriers to even greater FDI in Mexico?
Guajardo said that government policy or posture, water scarcity, insecurity and inadequate infrastructure are among the potential barriers to increasing foreign investment in Mexico.
Guajardo says that he expects the government’s approach to energy policy will shift during the presidency of Claudia Sheinbaum, which could help spur more foreign investment. (Cuartoscuro)
He said he believes that the government’s posture — at least with regard to the energy sector — will improve during the presidency of Sheinbaum, who will take office Oct. 1.
Respect for the rule of law, “particularly in the energy sector,” is needed to create investor confidence, Guajardo said. There need to be “clear signs” that contracts will be respected “in the long term,” he added.
Meanwhile, water supply pressures as more and more companies relocate to Mexico is going to be a “huge issue,” Guajardo predicted.
“Communities will stand up to investment or to big business” over water, he said, adding that water availability, electric capacity, and a tight labor market will be new areas of due diligence for companies seeking to set up manufacturing operations in Mexico
Insecurity, “particular as it pertains to transportation,” is another potential barrier to FDI, Guajardo said, referring to things such as highway and train robberies.
Finally, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is one example of a region of Mexico where a lack of infrastructure could hold foreign investment back, he said.
The port of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz is part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec trade corridor, which could be a booster for nearshoring investment in Mexico’s southern states. (Cuartoscuro)
