Friday, July 4, 2025

Sheinbaum unveils an even more ambitious version of her transformative Plan México

By
MND Staff
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Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum stands at the presidential podium looking out at an audience off-camera with her fist raised and her mouth open as if cheering. Behind her is a wall with the words in Spanish: Plan Mexico, Strenghtening the Economy and Well-Being, Mexico City April 3, 2025.
With a decidedly optimistic atmosphere at Mexico's National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City, President Claudia Sheinbaum invited governors, business leaders and the press to an event Thursday to announce expansions to her already ambitious Plan México. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday announced 18 “programs and actions” related to Plan México, the ambitious economic initiative unveiled by the federal government in January.

She outlined the different initiatives during a 30-minute speech at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City a day after United States President Donald Trump announced “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from most countries around the world, but not those from Mexico or Canada.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Plan Mexico event with her at the center of a line of Mexican officials onstage. Two of them are holding up their closed fists as if to cheery, and one is applauding.
Among the officials accompanying Sheinbaum, center, during the event were, from left to right, Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez, Mexico City’s Head of Government Clara Brugada, Baja California Governor Marina del Pila and Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

While Mexican steel and aluminum, vehicles assembled in Mexico and Mexican goods that don’t comply with USMCA rules are subject to tariffs when exported to the United States, Sheinbaum on Thursday didn’t announce any retaliatory measures against imports from the U.S.

Mexico’s decision to refrain from retaliating against its largest trade partner differs from the approach of Canada, where Prime Minister Mark Carney said that his government will impose “carefully calibrated and targeted counter tariffs” on the United States.

“As you know we planned this event due to what could have happened yesterday,” said Sheinbaum, accompanied on stage by most of her cabinet ministers.

“… Fortunately and thanks to the good relations we’ve established with the United States government, … there was something very important yesterday — recognition of the Mexico-United States-Canada trade agreement, which is fundamental at this time,” she said.

“Of course, there are outstanding issues on which we continue holding talks with the United States government,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the steel, aluminum and auto tariffs.

“… We believe that with the dialogue we’ve established with the United States government, we’re in a position to reach a better agreement,” she said.

Amidst all the positivity, Sheinbaum touched briefly on the U.S.’s recently imposed 25% tariffs on Mexican-made automobiles, potentially a major blow to the economy. She said Mexico would keep negotiating those tariffs with U.S. officials. (Audi México)

The 18 Plan México programs and actions 

Sheinbaum highlighted that Mexico’s outlay on imported products is “similar” to the revenue it earns from exports.

“We know that a lot of what we buy abroad could be made at home, with the creativity, ingenuity and determination that characterizes Mexicans,” said the president, who noted that increasing production in Mexico and reducing imports from countries with which Mexico doesn’t have a trade agreement (such as China) is one of the main objectives of Plan México.

“… Today we’re announcing 18 programs and actions of Plan México,” Sheinbaum said before enumerating each one.

Many of the initiatives were presented under a heading that encapsulates their objectives. They are as follows:

1. Increase food sovereignty

Sheinbaum outlined the government’s domestic production targets for corn, beans, milk and rice. Her administration is aiming to substantially increase production of the four staples between now and 2030, the president’s final year in office.

Sheinbaum said that the government will present the programs aimed at achieving the food production targets at her Friday morning press conference.

2. Increase energy sovereignty 

Sheinbaum said that Mexico’s production of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel will increase by at least 30% by 2030. She also said that natural gas production will increase over the next five years, allowing Mexico to reduce reliance on imports.

Pemex station attendants in uniform pumping gas into a car's gas tank.
One of Plan México’s aims is to increase domestic gasoline production by at least 30%. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum said that the government will “accelerate” investment in the state-owned Federal Electricity Commission in order to increase its electricity generation capacity, including its capacity to generate renewable energy.

“We will accelerate the permits for the generation of renewable energy, always guaranteeing that 54% of electricity generation is public as the recently approved laws establish,” she added.

Sheinbaum said that further details on the government’s energy sector plans will be announced at her morning press conference next Wednesday.

3. Accelerate public infrastructure projects

Sheinbaum said that the government will this year “accelerate” a range of public infrastructure projects, including highway projects, water projects, rail projects, port projects and airport projects.

She said that the draft “Public Works Law,” which is currently under consideration by Congress, will allow “all” the processes related to the construction of the infrastructure projects to be expedited.

Mexico's President Sheinbaum returning the salute of Mexican marines in unform line in a row, with one holding the Mexican flag in a stadium in Queretaro
Sheinbaum in Querétaro in October to launch the Mexico City-Querétaro railway project, just one of dozens of planned public infrastructure projects that will be part of Plan México. (Presidencia)

Sheinbaum said that the various public infrastructure projects will generate between 500,000 and 1 million “direct jobs just in 2025.”

She said that more information about the government infrastructure projects will be presented on Monday April 14.

4. Accelerate the construction of homes and access to loans 

Sheinbaum said that the government is now aiming to build 180,000 new homes this year, 50,000 higher than a previously announced target.

“It’s part of the project [to build] one million homes in the six-year period of government,” she said.

The Institute of the National Housing Fund for Workers (Infonavit) and the National Housing Commission (Conavi) are involved in the ambitious project.

Sheinbaum also said the government will expedite access to more than half a million loans to help Mexicans purchase homes. She said that the government’s housing projects will create at least 400,000 “direct jobs” this year.

Further details on the government’s housing schemes will be presented next Wednesday.

Electric bus witha sign related to Plan Mexico that says I am electric and Made in Mexico.
The unveiling last week of Mexico’s first domestically built electric vehicle — a line of buses to be used in Mexican cities as public transportation — is just the beginning, President Sheinbaum said, of what could be a Mexican-made auto industry. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
5. Strengthen various sectors of the economy 

Sheinbaum said that her government will strengthen various sectors of the Mexican economy so that they can ramp up production of goods “for the internal market.”

The sectors she cited were textiles, footwear, furniture, steel and aluminum, semiconductors, solar panels, batteries and the “creative industry.”

Decrees to support the government’s objective that include “a range of actions and measures” will be published on May 5, Sheinbaum said.

6. Increase production of vehicles 

Sheinbaum said that the government has a plan to increase the production of vehicles in Mexico for sale in the domestic market. Innovation, research and development and energy efficiency in the auto sector will be strengthened as a result of the plan, she said.

“The objective is that the majority of vehicles used in Mexico are manufactured in our country,” Sheinbaum said.

“Decrees for this program, which are also associated with dialogue with the United States, will be published on May 16,” she said.

7. Increase production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices 

Sheinbaum said this will be achieved through measures such as “the administrative simplification” of national health regulator Cofepris.

She also said that the government, starting in 2026, will increase purchases of medicines and medical equipment from companies that have at least one plant in Mexico.

Decrees to support the objectives will be published later this month.

Mexico’s federal Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry delivers fertilizer to farmers via the Fertilizers for Well-Being Program, an initiative tied to the administration’s food sovereignty goals. According to government data, 67% of Mexico’s fertilizer demand must be met by imports. (Cuartoscuro)
8. Increase production of petrochemicals and fertilizers 

Sheinbaum said this will be achieved through public-private and private-only projects. She said that agreements for the public-private projects will be signed in the first half of this year.

9. Increase government purchases of Mexican goods 

Sheinbaum said the new Acquisitions Law, currently being considered by the Senate, will facilitate this objective. It states that Mexican goods should account for 65% of total government purchases.

10. Increase sales of Mexican products in supermarkets and department stores 

Sheinbaum said this will be achieved through “voluntary agreements” with the retailers. She said these agreements would be published by May 12.

It appears the government wants supermarkets and department stores to increase the range of Mexican goods they stock, and perhaps reduce their offerings of foreign products.

11. Digital platform for investors to be ready this month  

Sheinbaum said that a new digital platform that investors can use to complete municipal, state and federal applications and other forms will be ready on April 21.

The platform is called “La ventanilla única,” a kind of digital one-stop shop for companies seeking permits and the like in order to legally commence projects in Mexico.

Sheinbaum noted that Mexico currently has an “investment portfolio” of planned projects totaling more than US $200 billion. A slide she displayed during her speech showed more than US $298 billion in the investment pipeline.

“There is enormous enthusiasm for investing in our country,” she said.

Laurent Saint-Martin, Delegate Minister of Foreign Commerce for France, was in Mexico City late last month to learn about opportunities for French investors.
12. Tendering process for 15 ‘well-being hubs’ will start by mid-May 

Sheinbaum said that the tendering processes for the construction of 15 “well-being hubs” — industrial zones or corridors — will start by May 19 at the latest. She noted that these hubs will offer a range of tax incentives to the companies that invest in them.

13. The creation of new jobs 

Plan México aims to create 1.5 million jobs during Sheinbaum’s six-year term.

The president said on Thursday that 100,000 jobs will be on offer at job fairs and via online job search sites in the near future. She said that the government has been working with the private sector on the initiative.

Jobs will be on offer at 300 jobs fairs across all 32 federal entities starting April 23.

14.  Increase access to credit for small businesses 

According to a slide the president displayed, the government’s aim is to increase the percentage of small businesses that have access to credit ever year this six-year period of government to reach 30% in 2030.

Sheinbaum said that details on the government’s program to achieve this objective will be presented at a banking sector event on May 7.

15. Increase investment in science and technology research 

Sheinbaum said that the increased investment will be focused on the development of electric vehicles, semiconductors and satellites, and go toward the creation of a National Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and various other programs.

The government is also aiming to simplify the process to obtain patents. This objective will be supported by the draft Mexican Institute of Industrial Property law, which Sheinbaum said will be submitted to Congress on April 14.

Grocery cart filled with items from the Mexican food basket inside a Mexican supermarket with aisles of grocery items on display. A single shopper pushing a shopping cart is in the background.
President Sheinbaum announced that an existing agreement between the government and the private sector would be permanently extended to keep the prices of items in Mexico’s basic basket of goods down despite inflationary pressure. (Moisés Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)
16. ‘Permanently’ extend the validity of the government’s anti-inflation plan

Sheinbaum said that the government-private sector agreement aimed at keeping the cost of basic foodstuffs down will be “permanently” extended.

17. Continue minimum wage increases  

Sheinbaum committed her government to increasing Mexico’s minimum wage on an annual basis.

The minimum wage increased 12% on Jan. 1 to 278.80 pesos (about US $14) per day in most of the country.

18. Guarantee and expand welfare programs 

Sheinbaum highlighted that all of the government’s welfare programs are “guaranteed as social rights” in the Mexican Constitution.

She said that 1 million women aged 63 and 64 now receive a government pension, and highlighted that women aged 60-62 will be able to enroll in the scheme from August.

Sheinbaum said that all public secondary school students are already eligible to receive a government education scholarship, and noted that the scheme will be extended to public primary school students in 2026.

Sheinbaum: Plan México ‘is the path’ to prosperity

At the conclusion of her address, Sheinbaum said she was certain that Plan México “is the path” that “will take us to a Mexico with more well-paid employment, less poverty and inequality, greater investment and production, more innovation [and] lower carbon content.”

The president said that the plan also ensures respect for the environment and will allow Mexico to increase its “self-sufficiency and sovereignty.”

Mexico News Daily 

How is Mexico responding to the Trump tariffs?

By
MND Staff
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A trading graph trending downwards
Tariffs are here and economic chaos has gripped the world. What is Mexico planning to do? (Maxim Hopman/Unsplash)

With the announcement that U.S. President Trump has introduced sweeping tariffs against almost the entire world, economies across the globe are reacting with a mixture of shock and outrage. 

The United States’ neighbors Mexico and Canada, which have already been slapped with 25% tariffs on aluminum, steel, and automobiles, seem to have escaped this new round of tariffs however, as all other goods covered by the USMCA free trade agreement remain untouched.

Sheinbaum responds to Trump's tariffs

 

In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced 18 new targeted measures as part of her economic Plan México. She has emphasized that Mexico and the United States share an important and unbreakable trade relationship and that she is grateful for the work the two countries have done together in recent years.

Despite this, Plan México is looking to futureproof Mexico’s economy against any future reprisals, especially in the wake of new tariffs on Mexican beer announced earlier this week and in the face of a potential renegotiation of the USMCA.

So, what’s in Plan México?

The economic roadmap will see an increase in production, investment, and domestic consumption in key industries, including energy, automotive, textiles, steel, aluminum, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and food. There will also be increased investment in public infrastructure projects, like roads, railways, airports, and water distribution networks.

Plan México also calls for domestic investment, minimum wage increases and greater social support schemes.

Mexico News Daily’s María Meléndez takes a look at what the future might hold for Mexico in the latest edition of our MND TV explainer series.

Mexico News Daily

 

Puerto Peñasco tops of the list of Airbnb’s highest-rated destinations in Mexico

By
MND Staff
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Jacuzzi on balcony overlooking the Sea of Cortez
Just an hour south of the Arizona border, Puerto Peñasco offers sun, sea and Mexico's top hosts. (Airbnb)

Airbnb has revealed that Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, is Mexico’s highest-rated vacation rental destination, based on guest ratings from 2024. 

Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point, is located on the northern shores of the Gulf of California in the state of Sonora. Due to its proximity to Arizona, the sunny destination is popular among U.S. travelers, earning it the nickname “Arizona’s Beach.”

View from balcony of beachside resort in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora
Located near the border with Arizona, Puerto Peñasco does not lack for sunny days. (Airbnb)

“Whatever you’d like to call this desert enclave on the Sea of Cortez, its six beaches, rocky tide pools, and blazing Sonoran sun have made it one of northern Mexico’s fastest-growing beachfront getaways,” Airbnb said in its report.

With an average rating of 4.83 stars out of 5, Puerto Peñasco’s hosts have earned the top position thanks to their kindness and personalized attention.

The destination boasts 2,600 rental properties, of which 1,900 are family-friendly. Meanwhile, travelers with pets can find 590 pet-friendly options.

The vacation rental company said that visitors tend to prefer traveling to Puerto Peñasco in May, June, September and October, “when air and water temperatures are ideal for swimming.” Visitors can enjoy water activities like kayaking, fishing and snorkeling, in addition to adventure trips to El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar — a UNESCO World Heritage site known as one of the driest places on Earth. 

Which other Mexican destinations made it to the top 10?

After Puerto Peñasco, the small community of Zacatlán de las Manzanas in Puebla, ranked second among Mexico’s highest-rated vacation rental destinations. Famous for being one of Mexico’s largest apple producers, hosts in Zacatlán recorded an average rating of 4.82 stars. Visitors recommend stopping by the  Pimentel bakery and the Relojes Centenarios watch shop. 

Los Cabos in Baja California Sur claimed the third spot with an average rating of 4.81 stars, solidifying its status as one of Mexico’s most popular destinations. 

“Cabo has inviting weather all year long, with 350 sunny days annually, making all seasons ideal for staying in one of Cabo’s vacation rentals,” Airbnb said. 

After Los Cabos, these are the other Mexican destinations that round out the top 10: Cozumel (Quintana Roo), Colima (Colima), Tepic (Nayarit), Tepoztlán (Morelos), Tequila (Jalisco), San Pedro Garza García (Nuevo León), and Valladolid (Yucatán).

Jacuzzi overlooks forested canyon at Zacatlán, Puebla
Mexico’s second-ranked destination, Zacatlán, Puebla, features top hosts and spectacular scenery. (Airbnb)

What was Mexico’s rating overall?

Airbnb data revealed that Mexico’s hosts across the country earned an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars for hospitality. Approximately 20% of Mexican hosts are Super Hosts —Airbnb’s top-rated, most experienced hosts, identified by a badge on their profiles.

“Hospitality in Mexico is more than a courtesy; it is an expression of cultural identity,” Airbnb said.

With reports from El Capitalino and Reportur

In Guerrero, Mexico’s biggest gold producer is about to get even bigger

By
MND Staff
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Canadian miners and Mexican government officials inaugurate the new Torex Gold mining project in Guerrero
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado inaugurates the the newly completed project in Guerrero. (Minera Media Luna/Facebook)

With the completion of an unprecedented 7-kilometer-long tunnel, Torex Gold Resources — Mexico’s largest gold producer — anticipates greater operational efficiency at its 29,000-hectare Morelos property in the state of Guerrero.

The underground tunnel, which passes beneath the Balsas River, links the Canadian gold producer’s highly productive El Limón Guajes mine with its new Media Luna project.

Airiel view of El Limón Guajes mine on a sunny day
The project connected a new mining area to the established Limón Guajes mine. (Torex Gold/X)

The tunnel, completed March 26, is just one part of a massive processing plant tie-in project designed to link the two mines and enhance Torex Gold’s environmental sustainability in Mexico, company officials said.

Torex Gold CEO Jody Kuzenko did the honors of detonating the final explosives to complete the tunnel after which he praised the engineers and workers who completed the tunnel in record time. The tunnel — 6 meters wide and 6.5 meters high — was completed three months ahead of schedule.

In July 2024, El Limon-Guajes surpassed Peñasquito to become Mexico’s largest gold producer, with an output of 453,800 ounces. The Peñasquito mine — operated by Canada’s Newmont Corporation — is located in the state of Zacatecas.

According to a project overview published by Torex Gold, Media Luna — discovered in March 2012 — is an underground deposit that primarily contains gold, copper and silver mineralization.

In addition to the tunnel, the Media Luna expansion includes a water treatment plant and a new “flotation circuit” — a metallurgical process that uses air bubbles and chemicals to separate valuable minerals from waste rock.

From August 2022 through September 2024, Torex Gold spent US $840 million on the construction and engineering project at Media Luna.

The company also acquired what it called “the largest underground fleet of electric vehicles in Latin America.” The 80 emission-free vehicles will transport materials between mines, primarily carrying minerals from Media Luna to the processing plant at El Limón-Guajes.

“The project will consolidate our position as Mexico’s largest gold producer while also making us a relevant actor in copper production,” the company said in a statement.

Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado, Canada’s Ambassador to Mexico Cameron MacKay and Lloyd Walton Álvarez, a representative of Mexico’s Economy Ministry, attended the inauguration ceremony alongside roughly 1,000 employees, contractors, local and state officials and members of the public.

A representative of the Canadian company Torex Gold wearing an orange mining vest speaks at a podium in Guerrero
A representative of the Canadian company Torex Gold speaks at the inauguration of the new tunnel. (Evelyn Salgado/X)

Julián Urióstegui, president of Guerrero’s Business Coordinating Council, praised Torex Gold for its connections to local providers, sustainable practices and community outreach efforts.

With the Media Luna project, Torex supports a network of over 1,500 local providers while offering training and financing to those seeking involvement in the state’s mining value chain, Urióstegui said.

Mining is the second most important industry in Guerrero, comprising 4.8% of the state’s GDP.

“Mining operations, purchases from local providers and taxes help generate 4,500 direct jobs and 27,000 indirect jobs in the state,” Gov. Salgado said.

Prospects for gold on the rise

Despite falling more than 2% Thursday — amid a wider market selloff tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s import tariffs impacting bullion traders — the price of gold, a “safe-haven asset,” has been soaring most of the year.

Gold had hit 17 record highs as of March 27, Reuters reported, as investors preferred the precious metal “in response to escalating global trade tensions and tumbling equity markets,” it said.

Gold’s overall upward trajectory appears intact, surging over US $500 this year. Additionally, central banks are expected to sustain the rally, further diversifying reserves as a hedge against possible U.S. dollar fluctuations caused by Trump’s policies.

With reports from El Economista and Reuters

Government promises restoration plan for Maya Train environmental damage

By
MND Staff
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A clear-cut strip of land cuts through the jungle along the Maya Train route in Yucatán
Activists who had protested the train's construction received the news with cautious optimism. (Cuartoscuro)

Conceding that construction of the Maya Train caused environmental harm, Mexico’s Environment Ministry (Semarnat) announced a restoration plan for the damaged ecosystem.

Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena on Wednesday said the government is preparing a plan to address the ecological damage and will seek to solicit input from local communities.

The Maya Train stretches 1,554 kilometers (966 miles), connecting cities and rural areas of the Yucatán Peninsula. The US $30-billion mega-project was a major focus of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration. Construction began in June 2020 and partial operations began in December 2023.

Bárcena outlined some of the issues that the restoration plan would aim to rectify, including problems related to native fauna.

She said that some of the mesh netting placed along tracks would be removed so as to allow the free movement of local wildlife such as jaguars, tapirs and deer. Wildlife crossings should also be improved, she said.

“The restoration required … must be comprehensive because it must involve reforestation,” Bárcena said. “Local communities can be a significant factor in helping restore the jungle ecosystem.”

Greenpeace México called the government’s remedial actions “positive,” while asking in a social media post if the actions proposed would be enough.

In a published statement, Greenpeace México insisted that it is critical for Semarnat to seek public involvement and consult with experts.

The environmental organization did offer praise for Semarnat’s announcement that it is considering designating the region’s aquifer, which includes underground caves and cenotes, a biosphere reserve. Cenotes, which are common in the Yucatán Peninsula, are natural pits or sinkholes formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, thus exposing groundwater.

“The aquifer is one of the principal water sources in the region,” Greenpeace said in a statement. “It connects diverse ecosystems and contains archaeological and paleontological items of incalculable value.”

The global environmental organization also said simply removing mesh netting and improving wildlife crossings is not enough. “Concrete measures must be implemented to guarantee reproduction and survival of threatened species such as the jaguar,” it said, adding that biological corridors that have been obstructed must be restored.

A map showing the planned route of the Maya Train, which forms a circuit around the Yucatán Peninsula.
The Maya Train loops around the Yucatán Peninsula, passing through both tourist destinations and Indigenous communities. (Tren Maya)

It also wondered whether reforestation efforts could possibly be sufficient considering that approximately 10 million trees were toppled. When proposing the Maya Train project, López Obrador had declared that “not a single tree would be cut down.”

As part of the government’s reforestation project, the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) will also seek to restore damaged mangroves.

A Conafor official said the reforestation project would be funded by the construction companies involved in building the Maya Train, but no details were presented to reporters. The government did not provide a cost estimate nor did it explain when the restoration work might begin.

Environmental and community activists battled Maya Train project

Since the inception of the project, environmental and Indigenous activists voiced objections to the train’s construction.

Environmental activists decried the massive destruction of the peninsula’s jungle and the government’s apparent failure to carry out environmental impact studies. They also argued that the steel and cement pilings being used had pierced through the roofs of underground limestone caves, destroying the archaeological and geological heritage of the region.

Indigenous activists complained that local communities — mostly populated by Indigenous Maya — were not properly consulted, even those that were forced to relocate. Others wondered if the local Indigenous culture would be destroyed.

A passenger waits to board the Maya Train
A Maya Train passenger waits to board in Cancún. (Cuartoscuro)

Opponents frequently won temporary injunctions against the project, but the government either ignored the rulings or managed to overturn the decisions on appeal.

Earlier this year, a decision by a federal court halted the construction of two of the seven sections of train lines — Lines 5 and 7 — but critics said the ruling came too late as the tracks were virtually completed and the damage to surrounding ecosystems was already done.

The Sélvame del Tren activist collective — a constant thorn in the government’s side — said it was grateful that the government finally acknowledged the environmental damage, but said it will continue to speak out if restoration efforts come up short.

With reports from Animal Político and El País

USMCA free trade deal ‘is still standing’: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum walks onstage at her morning press conference, in front of a banner reading "Conferencia del Pueblo, Ciudad de Mexico"
At her daily press conference Thursday morning, President Claudia Sheinbaum said the U.S. decision not to impose across-the-board tariffs on Mexico had to do with a relationship built between Mexico and the U.S. "based on respect." (Presidencia)

President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged at the very beginning of her Thursday morning press conference that the United States government didn’t announce any “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from Mexico on Wednesday.

Mexico and Canada — which along with the United States are the signatories to the USMCA free trade pact — were among a very small group of countries that avoided reciprocal tariffs on their exports to the world’s largest economy.

United States President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of at least 10% on imports from almost all countries around the world, with reciprocal duties going as high as 49% in the case of Cambodia.

“Some of the world’s most heavily sanctioned countries — Russia, Belarus, Cuba and North Korea — avoided being singled out for special punitive treatment,” Reuters reported.

Sheinbaum: Mexico avoided additional tariffs due to ‘good relationship’ with US 

“I suppose you heard President Trump’s message yesterday about this new United States trade and tariff policy for the rest of the world?” Sheinbaum said at the start of her press conference.

“In Mexico’s case, there are no additional tariffs … and that is good for the country,” she said.

“Although some people don’t want to recognize it, it has to do with the good relationship we’ve built between the government of Mexico and the government of the United States that is based on respect — respect for our sovereignty, collaboration, coordination, but with respect for Mexico, Mexicans and national sovereignty,” Sheinbaum said.

“This has allowed Mexico to avoid additional tariffs,” she said.

“And it also has to do with the strength of our government. And as I always say, there are a lot of people in Mexico. That’s the strength of our country, it lies in them, in that there is no division between the people and the government,” Sheinbaum said.

Dialogue with US on auto and steel tariffs continues  

Sheinbaum acknowledged that Mexico’s automotive, steel and aluminum exports are subject to United States tariffs. So are goods that don’t meet USMCA rules.

The United States’ 25% tariff on vehicles manufactured outside the United States took effect on Thursday. Vehicles assembled in Mexico and Canada will face a lower tariff rate when exported under the USMCA as U.S. content in those vehicles will be exempt from the duty. U.S. tariffs on certain auto parts will take effect on May 3.

The United States’ 25% tariff on steel, aluminum and hundreds of products made from those metals took effect last month. It will apply to canned beer and empty aluminum cans starting Friday.

Trump announces new US tariffs on Mexican… beer

Sheinbaum highlighted that the auto, steel and aluminum tariffs apply to all countries, “not just Mexico and Canada.”

She noted that the automotive tariffs have special “characteristics” for vehicles exported from Mexico and Canada, and stressed that the North American auto industry is “very integrated.”

Sheinbaum said that her government is holding ongoing talks with its U.S. counterpart on the auto, steel and aluminum tariffs, indicating that she is hopeful Mexico could win a reprieve.

She noted that she would present the government’s plan to strengthen the Mexican economy, which she said “has to do with Plan México,” at midday on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Sheinbaum said she would present a “comprehensive program” to strengthen the Mexican economy that would go beyond responding to U.S. tariffs.

Ebrard: ‘We have preferential treatment’

Speaking after Sheinbaum, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard noted that the United States has 14 free trade agreements, and imposed “reciprocal tariffs” on all its free trade partners except Mexico and Canada.

“Today we have preferential treatment,” he said.

Economy Minister Ebrard stands in front of a world map labelled with the words "Trato preferential a Mexico"
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who has been at the forefront of Mexico’s trade negotiations with the United States, pointed out that with many more countries around the world now facing U.S. tariffs, Mexico is in a more competitive trade position. (Presidencia)

Ebrard said that the preferential treatment afforded to Mexico is the result of the president’s strategy in dealing with the United States government.

“It’s a great achievement. … Very recently, there wasn’t going to be any exception,” he said, referring to the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.

The USMCA ‘is still standing’ 

Ebrard asserted that the fact that Mexican products won’t be subject to reciprocal tariffs when shipped to the United States means that the USMCA “is still standing.”

“That’s a major achievement. We don’t take it for granted because in a new trade order based on tariffs, it’s very difficult for a free trade agreement to survive,” he said.

“In other words, if we hadn’t achieved this, your question would be: ‘What happened with the [trade] agreement?’ Right?” Ebrard said to reporters.

Female employees of a textile factory in Mexico. The women are at work, sitting in rows at tables with industrial sewing machines. They are wearing orange t-shirts and matching orange hats under which their hair is tucked.
Dodging U.S. tariffs means that millions of jobs in a wide swath of Mexican industries are no longer in jeopardy, Ebrard said Thursday. (Shutterstock)

The economy minister highlighted that a wide range of products can be exported tariff-free to the United States, including agricultural ones, electronic goods, chemicals, clothing, footwear and medical devices.

The industries that make products not subject to U.S. tariffs employ millions of people in Mexico, he said.

Mexico’s 40-day goal  

“Our goal in the next 40 days is to achieve the best conditions among all countries of the world for the [Mexican] auto industry,” Ebrard said.

“The same thing for steel and aluminum,” he added.

Ebrard and other Mexican officials will attempt to achieve those objectives through dialogue with U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

“We’re going to be working the next 40 days,” the economy minister said.

“… That is what comes next, and we estimate that it will be around 40 days of negotiations,” Ebrard said.

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

What’s on in Puerto Vallarta in April?

By
Meagan Drillinger
-
0
Run into April in PV with the Vallarta Marathon... and then keep up the pace dancing and eating the month away. (Vallarta Adventures/Facebook)

Puerto Vallarta in April? It’s not just a vacation: it’s a vibe. A month when the beaches heat up, the tacos flow and your step count goes through the roof — whether from marathon training or salsa dancing ‘til sunrise. From sizzling DJ sets to savory taco fests, this month’s calendar is so jam-packed, you’ll need a beach day just to recover.

Here’s what’s happening in Puerto Vallarta this April, and why you absolutely should not miss it.

Puerto Vallarta Marathon

(Maratón Puerto Vallarta)

Lace up those sneakers and channel your inner speed demon because the Puerto Vallarta Marathon is back, and she’s had a glow-up. Now in its sixth year, this beachfront beauty of a race kicks off and finishes at the sparkling Puerto Mágico terminal. Expect ocean breezes, palm-lined paths, and yes, sore calves.

The 2025 edition brings four ways to get sweaty: the full 42K, a breezy 21K half and 5K or 10K fun runs. Pro tip: the 42K is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, so this isn’t just a jog through paradise. It’s serious business. Or at least, as serious as anything can be when you’re running past beach bars and bougainvillea.

Date: April 6
Location: Puerto Mágico, Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio, Zona Hotelera Nte.
Cost: 500 peso registration fee

Feria del Taco

What better way to honor this handheld icon than with a full-blown Feria del Taco? Back for its eighth saucy edition, this celebration of tortilla-wrapped goodness brings more than 40 different styles of tacos, from carnitas to shrimp to suadero.

Entrance is free, and the fest runs from 2 to 11 p.m., giving you plenty of time to sample your way to taco nirvana. Add in local craft beers, tastings, live music, aguas frescas and desserts, and you’ve got a day of pure, unapologetic indulgence.

Date: April 6, 2 to 11 p.m.
Location: Puerto de Luna Hotel, Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 2500, Zona Hotelera Nte.
Cost: Free to attend

Industry Club Semana Santa

(Industry Club PV)

Easter, but make it techno. Industry Club’s Semana Santa party is bringing a lineup of DJs and deliciously debauched dancing to Vallarta just in time for the holiday. DJs include Alana Rosse, Alex Tempo, Christian Ortega, Diego Alvarez, Luis Vazquez and many more.

Date: April 17-20
Location: Industry Club, Lázaro Cárdenas 258, Zona Romántica
Cost: From 1300 pesos  

Easter pool parties at Mantamar

(Mantamar)

Easter weekend at Mantamar is not for the faint of heart— or the easily sunburned. Four days of poolside bangers, international DJs and swimwear that leaves very little to the imagination? Coming right up. 

  • April 17: Oscar Velázquez (Mexico)
  • April 18: Tony Moran (U.S.)
  • April 19: Alex Acosta (Mexico)
  • April 20: Diego Alvarez (Mexico)

Arrive early, hydrate often and don’t forget your best poolside strut.

Date: April 17-20
Location: Mantamar Beach Club, Malecón 169, Zona Romántica
Cost: From 800 pesos 

Rico Atardeset Puerto Vallarta

Guadalajara’s beloved sunset party, Rico Atardeset, is making its PV debut. Expect a sundown session with top DJs, a stylish crowd and a dance floor that doesn’t quit. It’s usually a Sunday thing in GDL, but it’s bringing a Saturday session to Puerto Vallarta.

Date: April 19
Location: Paseo de Los Corales 129, Conchas Chinas
Cost: From 324 pesos  

Selvamania

(Facebook)

Live music, tasty eats and artisan vibes: Selvamania is part night market, part beach party. Expect live bands, food and craft vendors and those epic Bay of Banderas and Sierra Madre views. 

Date: April 19
Location: Estadio Municipal Puerto Vallarta, Av. Francisco Medina Ascencio s/n, Lázaro Cárdenas
Cost: Free to attend

Vidanta Concert Series

(Vidanta)

Colombian pop phenoms Morat will take the stage at the luxurious Vidanta resort as part of their 2025 concert series — their first-ever performance here. If tearjerkers in Spanish and swoon-worthy harmonies are your thing, bring tissues. And dancing shoes.

Date: April 24
Location: VidantaWorld Esplanade
Cost: From 1800 pesos

Vallarta SBK Dance Festival

(Vallarta SBK)

Four days. Endless dancing. Zero regrets. The Vallarta SBK Dance Festival is where the sensual world of salsa, bachata, kizomba and zouk takes over PV. Think world-class workshops, beach parties, pool parties and enough body rolls to put “Dirty Dancing” to shame.

Catch performances by Mexican salsero Jimmy Rodriguez and World Salsa Champion Dioney DaSilva, or just show up to move and make a few friends on the dance floor.

Date: April 24-27
Location: Hotel Friendly Vallarta
Cost: From 1800 pesos

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’s on in Guadalajara and around Lake Chapala in April?

By
MND Staff
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0
View of Guadalajara showing its abundance of trees.
April brings concerts and festivals to Guadalajara and Lake Chapala. (Shutterstock)

April in Guadalajara and Chapala is loaded with musical events. From rock concerts to Mexican regional music shows and a beer festival featuring local bands, April promises an exciting agenda for music lovers. But there’s more than just concerts. This month, Guadalajara will host Mexico’s largest technology event, as well as two events that celebrate Japanese and anime culture. 

Let’s dive in to see the exciting events that await you in Guadalajara and around Lake Chapala this April. 

John Digweed at Bar Américas

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bar americas (@baramericas)

Bar Américas in the Colonia Americana — named the world’s coolest neighborhood by Time Out magazine in 2022 — will host English musician John Digweed on April 3. Digweed’s sound is almost exclusively electronic, combining various styles of club, dance progressive house and trance. He has frequently ranked as one of the world’s greatest DJs by a variety of publications, including Resident Advisor and DJ Mag.

Date: April 3 at 11 p.m.
Location: Bar Américas, Av. Chapultepec Sur 507, Col. Americana.
Cost: 400 pesos

Garbage at Teatro Estudio Cavaret

Fancy a rock concert? Then you can’t miss the chance to see Garbage, one of the legendary bands of alternative rock. The group, made up of Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker, has been around since the 1990s, with a musical approach that fuses rock, electronica and alternative pop. Expect to hear hits like “Only Happy When It Rains,” “Stupid Girl” and “I Think I’m Paranoid.” 

Date: April 4
Location: Teatro Estudio Cavaret, Ave. Parres Arias y Periferico Nucleo Calle 2, Industrial los Belenes, Zapopan
Cost: Starting at 950 pesos

Otaku Fest Guadalajara 

Otaku Fest, a festival that celebrates anime, manga, K-pop and Japanese culture, is back in Guadalajara. The event will see everything from screenings to exhibitions, video game tournaments, professional K-pop tournaments and lookalike contests. It will also host two special guests: Gerardo Reyero and Alan Velázquez, who have provided voices for various anime characters, including western characters like Hellboy and Han Solo. 

Date: April 4 and 5
Location: Salón La Cúpula, Silvestre Revueltas 1080, Col. Centro, Guadalajara
Cost: Starting at 120 pesos

“Howl’s Moving Castle” symphony concert

Fans of animation will be excited to know that Studio Ghibli’s 2004 classic “Howl’s Moving Castle”  will be screened with a live orchestra in Guadalajara. With music composed by Joe Hisaishi and performed live by an orchestra, Hayao Miyazaki’s film promises an enchanting experience for kids and adults alike.  

Date: April 5
Location: Teatro Diana, Av. 16 de Septiembre 710, Mexicaltzingo, Guadalajara
Cost: Starting at 550 pesos

Guadalajara Beer Festival

Calling all brew lovers: the Guadalajara Beer Festival is back for its fifth edition. This year, the event will feature 50 craft breweries from across Mexico presenting over 200 labels and pairings. A gastronomic area will see food stalls from different restaurants, offering everything from burgers to traditional esquites. Three stages will see live performances by local bands, as well as stand-up comedians. 

Date: April 5 from 1 to 11 p.m., April 6 from 12 to 9 p.m.
Location: Parque Ávila Camacho, Av. Manuel Ávila Camacho S/N, Lomas del Country, Guadalajara
Cost: Starting at 320 pesos

Tribute to Luis Miguel

Luis Miguel's concert presenting his 2024 tour, at the Mexico City Arena.
(Especial/Cuartoscuro)

The world-famous Candlelight concert musicians will perform classical versions of songs made famous by Luis Miguel, one of Mexico’s best-known  stars around the world. With an ensemble made up of violins, viola and cello. From romantic ballads like “La Incondicional,” and “Hasta Que Me Olvides,” to pop singles like “Cuando Calienta El Sol” and “Ahora Te Puedes Marchar,” attendees will enjoy an hour of music by candlelight. 

Date: April 18 at 9 p.m.
Location: Consuelo Velazquez Room – PALCCO, Av. Central Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena 375, Col. Poniente, Guadalajara
Cost: Starting at 349 pesos

Go to an art market on the Chapala Riviera

(Artists of Lake Chapala)

Organized by Artists of Lake Chapala, the Art Market takes place on select Saturdays in a picturesque setting on the Chapala Ribera. In April, the market highlights the work of Ricardo Sánchez Corona, known for his watercolor technique that captures the essence of Mexico. The art market draws everyone from art collectors to enthusiasts, and this month’s edition will be the last until September of this year. 

Date: April 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Garden of Dreams Boutique Hotel, Constitución 105, Ajijic.
Cost: Free 

Mexico’s largest technology and innovation event

Talent Land, an event that brings together leaders in technology, creativity and entrepreneurship, is back in Guadalajara for its eighth edition. This year, the event will open its doors to a higher age group — primarily millennials between 28 and 40 years old — who need to update their skills. Keynote speakers include technology entrepreneur Oso Trava, Shark Tank’s Mexico Investor Marcus Dantus and founder of MoureDev Brais Moure, among others.

Date: April 21-24
Location: Expo Guadalajara. Av. Mariano Otero #1499 Col. Verde Valle, Guadalajara.
Cost: Available tickets start at 7,890 pesos

Grupo Intocable at Arena Guadalajara

The iconic norteño musical group Grupo Intocable will perform live in Guadalajara as part of their 30th anniversary tour. The Texas-based Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning group fuses norteño sounds with rock, pop, polka, cumbia and folk. Performing hits like “¿Y todo para qué?”, “Fuerte No soy” and “Eres mi droga,” this concert promises to deliver an authentic regional Mexican music experience.

Date: April 26 at 9 p.m.
Location: Arena Guadalajara. Periférico. Nte. Ricardo Flores Magón Ote. 401, El Verde, Guadalajara
Cost: Starting at 690 pesos

Retreat Day in Ajijic

Mar de Jade Hotel, Nayarit
(Mar de Jade) 

If you’re looking to unwind and relax, the Limitless in Power & in Peace retreat awaits you in Ajijic. Through meditation and inquiry practices, Miranda Macpherson promises a “journey into a new depth of peace and spiritual potency.” As an interfaith minister, spiritual teacher and author, Macpherson will teach attendees to live beyond the “constraints of ego agitation.”

Date: April 11 and 12
Location: Namaste Village, Angel Flores 5, Ajijic
Cost: 1,000 pesos cash at the door.

Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog, Dunas y Palmeras.

Trump announces new US tariffs on Mexican… beer

By
MND Staff
-
15
Cans of Cororna Extra beer lying on a bed of large ice cubes
Want to avoid a tariff price bump on your Mexican-made Coronas? You'll need to buy it in a bottle. (Yuliya Yesina/Shutterstock)

United States President Donald Trump didn’t announce any “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from Mexico on Wednesday, but a 25% tariff on Mexican canned beer is set to take effect on Friday.

During a speech in the Rose Garden of the White House, Trump presented a chart outlining  “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from a long list of countries, but Mexico wasn’t among them.

In a fact sheet explaining the “reciprocal tariff” executive order the U.S. president signed on Wednesday, the White House said that Mexico and Canada are “unaffected by this order.”

“This means USMCA-compliant goods will continue to see a 0% tariff, non-USMCA compliant goods will see a 25% tariff, and non-USMCA-compliant energy and potash will see a 10% tariff,” the White House said.

“In the event the existing fentanyl/migration IEEPA [International Emergency Economic Powers Act] orders are terminated, USMCA-compliant goods would continue to receive preferential treatment, while non-USMCA-compliant goods would be subject to a 12% reciprocal tariff,” the fact sheet said.

On March 6, Trump announced that imports from Mexico covered by the USMCA free trade pact would not be subject to U.S. tariffs until at least early April. He had imposed a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada two days earlier due to what the White House said was the two countries’ failure to take adequate action against “the influx of lethal drugs” to the U.S.

While the tariff-free trade of USMCA-compliant goods continues for now, 25% tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum, and hundreds of products made with those metals, remain in effect. Those tariffs also applies to the steel and aluminum the United States imports from all other countries.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an expansion of those tariffs to include “two additional aluminum derivative products: beer and empty aluminum cans.”

As beer itself isn’t an “aluminum derivative product,” it appeared that only canned beer — the beer and its receptacle — would be affected by the 25% tariff. CNBC interpreted the Department of Commerce notice in that way.

However, Reuters’ interpretation was that the tariff would apply to “all beer imports.”

The U.S. tariff on Mexican steel and aluminum remains in effect, with a slight expansion to include beer cans made with Mexican aluminum — and the Mexican beer contained within. (Shutterstock)

Mexico is the largest exporter of beer to the United States, sending suds worth US $6.3 billion to its northern neighbor last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited by Reuters. The 25% tariff — scheduled to take effect this Friday — could make Mexican beer less competitive in the United States market, where Modelo Especial is the best-selling beer.

Auto tariffs to take effect on Thursday 

In his “liberation day” address, Trump confirmed that the auto tariffs he announced last week would take effect on Thursday.

The U.S. president announced last Wednesday that he would impose a 25% tariff “on all cars that are not made in the United States.”

However, U.S. content in vehicles assembled in Mexico will be exempt from the duty, lowering the effective tariff on vehicles made in Mexico.

Guillermo Rosales, president of the Mexican Association of Automotive Distributors, said that a vehicle made in Mexico for export to the United States has, on average, 40% U.S. content. The effective tariff on a vehicle assembled in Mexico with 40% U.S. content would be 15%.

The United States’ 25% tariff also applies to certain imports of auto parts, but the White House said last week that “USMCA-compliant automobile parts will remain tariff-free until the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), establishes a process to apply tariffs to their non-U.S. content.”

It was unclear how soon that process would be established.

Ford manufacturing plant entrance in Irapuato, showing the Ford logo and a sign saying Planta de Transmissiones Irapuato.
Although most USMCA-compliant products made in Mexico remain mostly tariff-free as of Wednesday’s announcements by the Trump administration, U.S. vehicles made in Mexico will, as expected, be subject to a tariff on their non-U.S. content. (X)

3 takeaways for Mexico from the US government’s Wednesday announcements 

  • The White House fact sheet indicates that if the Mexican government can satisfy the Trump administration that it is taking sufficient action to stem the flow of migrants and fentanyl to the United States, tariffs on non-USMCA-compliant imports from Mexico could be cut by 13 percentage points to 12%. For that to occur, Trump would have to terminate the IEEPA orders that currently apply to Mexican goods.
  • President Claudia Sheinbaum was right. On numerous occasions, she expressed confidence that Mexico would avoid the imposition of reciprocal tariffs on its exports to the United States as Mexico doesn’t charge tariffs on most imports from the U.S.
  • The USMCA still means something. While Trump has imposed tariffs on some imports from Mexico and Canada, the three-way trade pact is still protecting the United States’ neighbors to a certain extent.

Sheinbaum to respond to US tariffs on Thursday

At her Wednesday morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that she would announce on Thursday a range of measures to strengthen the Mexican economy.

“The program we’re going to present tomorrow is not just related to the tariffs that the United States could impose. It’s a comprehensive program to strengthen the Mexican economy,” she said.

Mexico could announce tariffs on certain imports from the United States in retaliation for the duties imposed on Mexican goods, although Sheinbaum has said her government won’t take an “eye for an eye” approach. Mexico could target certain products such as U.S. pork and bourbon, as it did in 2018 when Trump imposed tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum.

The Sheinbaum administration could also impose new or additional tariffs on products from other countries, such as China and other Asian nations, as it seeks to protect and strengthen Mexican industry.

The president on Wednesday noted that Mexico imports “a lot of vehicles, particularly from Asia” and described that situation as a “problem.”

She said that her government is seeking to bolster domestic vehicle production so that the majority of vehicles purchased in Mexico are made in Mexico.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum at her daily press conference. Standing at the presidential podium, she has her palms pressed together in front of her chin as she looks out at reporters off camera.
Rather than spend her Wednesday morning press conference posturing on what appeared to be impending U.S. tariffs on Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum implied that her plan for weathering tariffs focused on upping Mexico’s domestic production. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum indicated in February that additional tariffs on imports from China were a possibility. If the Mexican government were to impose additional tariffs on Chinese products, such as vehicles, it could go some way to appeasing Trump, who has accused Mexico of being a transshipment hub from Chinese goods destined for the U.S.

A placated Trump could consider giving Mexico some relief from the tariffs that some of its goods currently face when exported to the United States.

The peso gets a boost 

The Mexican peso depreciated to around 20.50 to the US dollar before Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” address at 2 p.m. Mexico City time but strengthened later in the day.

The USD:MXN rate was 20.23 at 7:15 p.m. Mexico City time.

“The peso appreciated because Trump didn’t announce tariffs for Mexico,” Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base, said on X shortly after 3 p.m. when the peso was trading at just above 20.20 to the dollar.

She said that the “high tariffs” the United States is set to impose on goods from other countries and the exemption of duties on goods shipped to the U.S. under the USMCA “provide Mexico an opportunity to increase its market participation” in the U.S.

Mexico shipped goods worth US $505.85 billion to the U.S. last year, capturing 15.5% of the United States’ $3.26 trillion market for imports.

While 25% tariffs currently apply to the non-USMCA compliant goods the United States imports from Mexico, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said last month that most companies in Mexico that ship products to the U.S. would be able to “easily or without major difficulty” comply with the rules of the North America free trade pact and thus avoid tariffs.

Trump’s ‘reciprocal’ tariffs 

“My fellow Americans, this is liberation day,” Trump said at the beginning of his 48-minute speech in the Rose Garden.

He said that “reciprocal tariffs” would take effect at midnight Thursday, but promptly noted they wouldn’t be “full reciprocal.”

According to the chart Trump presented, “reciprocal tariffs” based on “tariffs charged to the U.S.A., including currency manipulation and trade barriers” will apply to 50 countries, including the European Union. The U.S. tariffs will apply to imports at roughly half the rate at which the exporting countries tax U.S. imports, according to the chart.

While the U.S. government isn’t imposing reciprocal tariffs on imports from Mexico, Trump took aim at Mexico during his address due to the large trade surplus it runs with the United States.

The U.S. president put the United States’ annual deficit with Mexico at US $300 billion, although the figure was significantly lower than that last year at just under $172 billion, according to U.S. data.

During his speech, Trump also railed against NAFTA, the North American trade pact superseded by the USMCA in 2020, describing it as the “worst trade deal by far” and asserting that it caused the loss of 90,000 factories and 5 million manufacturing jobs in the United States.

He said that the implementation of reciprocal tariffs is “our declaration of economic independence” and that “jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country.”

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

Meet the Mexican economist who could be the next head of UNESCO

By
MND Staff
-
1
Gabriela Ramos
Gabriela Ramos, economist and diplomat, would bring to UNESCO a strong background in combating economic inequality and racism. (Gabriela Ramos/X)

Gabriela Ramos Patiño, a distinguished Mexican economist and diplomat, has emerged as one of three finalists to become the director-general of UNESCO after Audrey Azoulay’s second term expires in December.

With a career spanning decades in international organizations, Ramos is positioning herself as a transformative leader for UNESCO — formally the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — as the agency moves beyond its 80th anniversary this year.

Gabriela Ramos at podium
Ramos, a native of Michoacán, is in a position to become just the third woman in history to head UNESCO as director-general. (X)

Responding to a 2024 request for nominations, Mexico put forward Ramos, a native of Michoacán who will turn 61 next Tuesday.

This week, a news report citing UNESCO sources revealed her to be a finalist alongside Egypt’s Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz, 54, a former minister of tourism and antiquities, and Firmin Edouard Matoko, 68, of the Republic of Congo, a longtime UNESCO officer.

After a campaign period that begins this month, UNESCO’s 58-member executive board — elected by member states every four years — will vote by secret ballot in October, with the winner to be announced in November. The new head will serve a four-year term with the possibility of one renewal.

As the highest-ranking official of UNESCO, the director-general oversees an organization that is known for its more than 1,100 World Heritage Sites worldwide, its global efforts to promote inclusive and equitable quality education and its safeguarding of cultural traditions.

Since 1945, there have been 10 UNESCO heads, including one Mexican: Jaime Torres Bodet, a Mexico City native who served as the agency’s second director-general from 1948 to 1952.

Azoulay, the current director-general, began her first term in 2018 and was re-elected in 2021. The 52-year-old Frenchwoman, who served as her country’s minister of culture in 2016 and 2017, is the second female leader of UNESCO.

Ramos, who has dedicated her career to advancing global cooperation and addressing pressing social challenges, is seeking to become the third.

She holds a degree in International Relations from Universidad Iberoamericana and a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO Asst. Dir. Gen. | World Art Day Forum 2023 | GlobalPeaceEducation.com

Due to her strong academic showing, she was invited to join Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1988.

From there, she transitioned to international roles, including director of the Mexico City office for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It serves as a regional hub for Latin America and the Caribbean.

She then became director-general at OECD headquarters in Paris, and since 2020 has been UNESCO’s assistant director-general for social and human sciences, overseeing critical initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive societies.

Her portfolio includes addressing economic inequality, promoting gender equality, combating racism and advancing the ethics of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Notably, she spearheaded the adoption of UNESCO’s first global framework on AI ethics in 2021 and launched the Global Forum Against Racism.

Ramos’ candidacy comes at a pivotal moment for UNESCO, which is facing what she called an “era of conflict and polarization.”

Ramos was named one of the 100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes in 2017.
Ramos was named one of the 100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes in 2017. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

She has advocated for a “stronger, more inclusive and more innovative” organization to restore trust in multilateralism.

“Solidarity is also waning, and development cooperation is suffering,” Ramos said. “We are not on track to meet international commitments made in the past, with disastrous consequences for people and the planet.”

“We are failing to close the inequality gaps that are eroding our societies and democracies.”

Her vision aligns with her extensive experience at the OECD, where she led initiatives on inclusive growth, climate change and gender equity.

Among her achievements are reforms to tax systems through the G20, the establishment of gender quotas to reduce labor disparities and the creation of the W20 platform (as part of the G20) for women’s empowerment.

She has received numerous accolades for her work on gender equality and social inclusion, including France’s Order of Merit.

With reports from Milenio, El Financiero and Forbes

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