Trump's tariff threat "is something that is not new," Sheinbaum said Wednesday. "He has said it several times and we, in that sense, don't agree." (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Trump’s return to the White House is now just five days away, and Mexico could be affected almost immediately as the U.S. president-elect has pledged to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican exports on the first day of his presidency and promptly put his mass deportation plan into action.
At her morning press conference on Wednesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about how her government will attempt to ward off the proposed tariff, and reiterated that Mexico is ready to receive Mexicans deported from the United States.
President hopes to avert US tariffs through dialogue
A reporter noted that Trump announced on social media that he will “create the EXTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE to collect our Tariffs, Duties, and all Revenue that come from Foreign sources.”
Sheinbaum on Wednesday reiterated her support of the USMCA, and said that her government supports extending that economic model to “other countries of the Americas.” (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Trump’s tariff threat “is something that is not new,” she said.
“He has said it several times and we, in that sense, don’t agree,” Sheimbaum said.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump said that “through soft and pathetically weak Trade agreements, the American Economy has delivered growth and prosperity to the World, while taxing ourselves.”
Sheinbaum on Wednesday said that the USMCA free trade pact “has benefited the United States a lot” in terms of jobs and production.
“And really, in the case of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, we complement each other,” she added.
Sheinbaum also reiterated her belief that the integration of the Mexican, U.S. and Canadian economies allows North America to “better compete” with other regions of the world.
The objective of the Mexican government is to expand that integration to “other countries of the Americas,” she said.
Sheinbaum reiterates that Mexico is ready to receive deportees
Sheinbaum said earlier this month that the federal government’s plan to receive large numbers of deportees from the United States during Trump’s second term as president is “ready.”
It appears likely that Mexico will receive a significant number of deportees during Trump’s second term as president, if not the millions he has promised to expel. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
On Wednesday, she reiterated that the government is prepared to welcome Mexicans expelled from the United States.
“Of course, we don’t agree [with Trump’s mass deportation plan] and that’s why we defend the work of Mexicans in the United States who contribute to the Mexican economy [with remittances] but contribute more to the economy of the United States,” Sheinbaum said.
“But in the case of a decision by the United States government [to deport immigrants en masse] we are prepared,” she said.
“We’re going to present [the government’s plan] in due course, we don’t need to release it in advance. We’ve been working now for several months … in order to be able to welcome our compatriots in the best way in the case of there being deportations,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum: Pemex’s debt with suppliers will be paid off in March
Sheinbaum said that money owed to suppliers of state oil company Pemex will be completely paid off in March.
A “special strategy” was formulated to settle debts with suppliers, she said.
“In March we’ll finish paying. … We’re paying now, in February and in March,” Sheinbaum said.
Mexico News Daily reported in December that some suppliers and service providers for Pemex were facing severe financial difficulties as the beleaguered company had fallen behind on payments.
Additionally, the majority of Mexicans surveyed expressed a positive outlook on their financial prospects over the next year. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Mexicans’ perceptions of progress have tripled in the last six years, according to the Latinobarómetro, a regional survey conducted by the Chile-based nongovernmental organization Latinobarómetro Corporation. Each year, Latinobarómetro surveys citizens’ perceptions of governance, economic opportunity and personal safety, among other issues, in 17 Latin American countries.
The 2024 edition of the survey in Mexico revealed that the percentage of Mexicans who perceive that their country is progressing rose from 14% in 2018 to 45% in 2024.
The perception of progress is on the rise in Latin America, with 45% of Mexicans responding that they perceive Mexico to be progressing. (Latinobarómetro)
Perceptions of progress, democracy and the economy in Mexico in 2024
According to the study, the number of Mexicans who believe the country is stagnating fell from 59% to 37% in that same period, while the proportion of Mexicans who believe the country is in decline decreased from 26% to 16% between 2023 and 2024.
That nearly half of the Mexicans surveyed in 2024 believe their country is progressing puts Mexico way above the regional average of 28%.
A survey question regarding the national economy in 2024 showed that 47% of Mexicans consider Mexico’s economy to be “much better” or “a little better,” compared to the same period in 2023. Latinobarómetro’s survey also revealed that 75% of respondents in Mexico supported former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who was still in office or recently retired when the study was conducted, between Aug. 23 and Oct. 9, 2024.
Across the region, the Dominican Republic and Panama had the highest levels of optimism regarding personal and family finances, with 74% of respondents believing their economic condition would improve in the next 12 months. Mexico came in sixth place and above the average, with 59% of surveyed individuals expressing a positive outlook on their financial prospects over the next year.
Latinobarómetro’s survey revealed that 75% of respondents in Mexico supported former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. (Magdalena Montiel Velázquez/Cuartoscuro)
The report also shows that 50% of Mexicans said they were “very” or “somewhat satisfied” with democracy in Mexico.
In response to the question “Who does your government rule for?”, however, Mexicans were divided: 47% said “for the good of all people,” whereas 50% said “for the good of the groups in power.”
The 2024 regional results suggest that in Latin American societies, optimism about the future of personal and family wealth is high. However, overall, confidence in each country’s economy remains low. This implies that there is an underlying pressure on the national economy that is contradicted by a positive perception of it.
Latinobarómetro calls this the pressure of expectations, which in 2024, is at its highest level since 1995.
What are Mexicans currently most concerned about?
A recent Statista Consumer Insights survey shared by Forbes México showed that 41% of respondents in Mexico are concerned about inflation and the cost of living, while 52% and 54% are concerned about unemployment and poverty, respectively.
The city's new residents come from over 50 countries. Some of them are students with a temporary residency permit. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
The National Migration Institute (INM) issued 239,667 residency permits — both permanent and temporary — in Mexico City between 2018 and 2024. The city’s new residents ranged in age from under one year old to 98.
Official data to which the newspaper La Jornada had access showed that the number of new residency permits issued in Mexico City increased 134.9% throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from 20,293 in 2020 to 47,669 in 2023.
Between January and November of 2024, the INM granted 27,878 residency permits in the capital. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)
These new residents come from over 50 countries, including the United States, Canada, Spain, France, China, Colombia, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, Italy, Hungary, Panama, Chile, Peru, Australia, Germany, Barbados, New Zealand, Poland, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Lithuania, Ireland, Egypt, India, Democratic Republic of Congo, Korea and Russia, among others. Some of these foreign residents are students with a temporary student residency permit.
The highest number of applicants that received authorized visitor status was recorded between 2022 and 2023. Many of these applications were granted based on humanitarian reasons. These applications came from nationals of Nicaragua, Honduras, Venezuela, El Salvador, Haiti, Iran, Guinea, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Bulgaria and Indonesia.
Residency permits issued in Mexico City in numbers (2018-2024)
Between January and November of 2024, the INM granted 27,878 residency permits, down 41.5% from the 2023 figure of 47,669.
Here’s the breakdown of new residency permits issued in Mexico City per year:
2018
58,175
2019
31,804
2020
20,293
2021
23,236
2022
30,612
2023
47,669
2024
27,878
The institute did not share the number of temporary, permanent or visitor resident cards, nor whether any of them had changed status since being issued.
According to La Jornada, one of the reasons foreigners applied for residency permits included to “maintain the family unity of a Mexican citizen,” meaning the permit allows the family member to reside in Mexico but does not allow them to carry out remunerated activities in the country.
According to the Expat Insider report by InterNations, Mexico was the second-best place to live in 2024, after Panama. Mexico held the No. 1 position for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023.
Valeria Moy, an economist, columnist and director of the think tank Mexican Institute for Competitiveness. Follow Moy on X at @ValeriaMoy. (IMCO)
On Monday, what was announced last week at the meeting of Mexico’s Economic Development Advisory Council was presented by President Sheinbaum. Plan México represents the vision of industrial policy that this administration seeks to promote through investment incentives and collaboration between the government and the private sector.
The plan acknowledges key areas to focus on, but the challenges for its implementation are significant.
In addition to seeking increased foreign investment, one of the 12 goals of Sheinbaum’s Plan México is to provide access to finance to at least 30% of small and medium-sized businesses. “We’re among the countries with the least funding for small and medium-sized companies,” Sheinbaum said. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartocuro)
The plan proposes to strengthen micro, small- and medium-sized enterprises. In Mexico, small businesses have a short life span.
The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) has observed that companies in Mexico die before they are able to start growing and strengthening them will require more than just good intentions. A small business, in which a group of individuals risk their capital, needs social and economic conditions that go beyond just subsidies or fiscal favors.
These companies are more susceptible to extortion. In this sense, the simplification of paperwork — also contemplated in Plan México — becomes key.
Each procedure, and each window to carry it out, opens a door to be extorted. If extortion from organized crime is added to the extortion involved in red tape, the yield required by small businesses becomes increasingly higher. This cost takes companies out of the market that could have grown, but the lack of rule of law forces them to close. Yes, let there be better regulation, but it has to be the right kind.
The plan also intends to build stronger links between educational institutions and the industrial sector. Undoubtedly, the conversation between the two — and I would add the public sector — is essential to understanding the current and future needs of companies. Without human capital, it will be impossible to add more value. The most competitive states in the country have the strongest links between the three sectors.
One of IMCO’s most emblematic studies — Compara Carreras (Compare Degrees) — shows that the ten most studied bachelor’s degrees in Mexico have stayed practically unchanged over the last ten years. The world is changing, the country is changing and education is not adapting. Will this administration be able to turn around the educational policy that it has pursued in recent years?
The idea of import substitution, however, is what we need to pay even more attention to. Of course, supply chains must be strengthened, companies of all sizes must be given the necessary certainty so that they can risk their capital under the best possible conditions, and the private sector must be allowed to evaluate the investments to be made. But we must not give in to the argument that everything must be produced locally. This would squander comparative advantages and would result in the misallocation of resources, labor and capital, in a way that would not be most useful to society.
The import substitution that prevailed during several decades of the last century led the country into a situation where there were hundreds of public companies because, over time, the lack of entrepreneurial expertise was rewarded. If the private bicycle company went bankrupt, the government intervened by injecting resources.
The government of President Claudia Sheinbaum, if it wants this plan to be successful, will have to be careful not to go to extremes. Provide infrastructure, energy and rule of law. But in addition — and perhaps this is the biggest challenge — it will need to work under a new judicial system that could make it very expensive to attract investment.
Domestic challenges are many, but on top of everything else, the start of Trump’s second term in office is just days away.
This article was translated, edited and republished with the permission of Valeria Moy, whose column regularly appears in the newspaper El Universal.
Trump, who will commence his second term as U.S. president next Monday, has pledged to carry out the "largest deportation operation in American history," but it is unclear how quickly the deportations will occur. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
The municipal government of Tijuana approved on Monday an emergency declaration as it prepares for a possible influx of migrants deported from the United States after Donald Trump returns to the White House next week.
In a post to social media on Monday night, Tijuana Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz said that an extraordinary meeting of the city council was held “with the objective of preparing Tijuana in the face of a possible mass arrival of migrants.”
Esta tarde, llevamos a cabo la Sesión Extraordinaria de Cabildo con el objetivo de preparar a Tijuana ante la posible llegada masiva de migrantes.
Aprobamos por unanimidad la declaratoria de emergencia para garantizar un trato digno, el respeto a los derechos humanos y la… pic.twitter.com/3FIfqI2M91
“We unanimously approved the emergency declaration to guarantee dignified treatment [of deportees], respect for human rights and the allocation of necessary resources,” the mayor said.
Trump, who will commence his second term as U.S. president next Monday, has pledged to carry out the “largest deportation operation in American history,” but it is unclear how many immigrants will be expelled from the United States and how quickly the deportations will occur.
According to a proposal sent by Burgueño to councilors before Monday afternoon’s meeting, the emergency declaration allows the municipal government to promptly access local funds to respond to the “atypical situation” that would occur if large numbers of deportees were to arrive in Tijuana.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that “the money — it’s not clear how much — could be used for hiring personnel, leasing facilities, utilities, Internet and legal services, among other needs.”
The emergency declaration also allows Tijuana to apply for federal funds to respond to an influx of deportees.
Some deportees would likely need to be housed and fed for a period as they make plans for their new lives in Mexico. There are already numerous migrant shelters in Tijuana, including many that have opened recently, but they could be overwhelmed if large numbers of deportees arrive in the border city.
The emergency declaration allows Tijuana’s municipal government to promptly access funds to support the preparation of migrant shelters, for example. (Cuartoscuro)
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Burgueño has proposed renting an industrial building in southern Tijuana with the capacity to house 5,000 people.
After Monday’s meeting, the mayor said that municipal authorities in Tijuana were collaborating closely with the Baja California and federal governments to prepare for the possible arrival of large numbers of deportees.
Alicia Bárcena, former foreign affairs minister and current Environment Minister, said last year that some 5.3 million undocumented Mexicans live in the United States. Other estimates place the figure between 4 million and 5 million.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that there are around 120,000 undocumented Mexicans in San Diego County, according to the Mexican Consulate.
Undocumented Mexicans appear to be vulnerable to deportation during Trump’s second term, even though they make a valuable contribution to the United States economy — as Mexican officials have stressed.
Mexico could also receive non-Mexican deportees, although the federal government would prefer to see such people returned directly to their countries of origin.
Sheinbaum said on Jan. 3 that “we’re going to ask the United States to, as far as is possible, send migrants who aren’t from Mexico to their countries of origin.”
However, she added that “if they can’t, we could collaborate through different mechanisms.”
You are the poetry of patience, a triumph of time’s persuasion. My malted mysteries cry for your golden complexity; together, we will dominate Sunday suppers and late-night dinner parties.
I envy the skillet that makes you sweet, the wooden spoon that stirs you tenderly. You make the mundane divine, turning every kitchen into a teary eyed canteen. I ache to deglaze you, to mingle our essences until those diner guests fall silent in awe.
My dark hops exist for you, the sweet to my bitter, the bold to my smooth. When you soften and shine, I’ll always be there. I’m willing to sauté the pain away, if you ever find yourself stuck to the pan.
Ever yours, Negra Modelo
Ready to dance, drink (and slurp) the night away thanks to this dark, mysterious Modelo? (Cerveza Modelo/Instagram)
Dearest Negra Modelo,
You are the dark pool at the heart of my sizzling soul, the bittersweet whisper that turns onions golden brown. When I dance in the skillet’s heat, it is you I crave to quench the flames, your cold embrace a song to wash away my onion tears. Each sip from your mahogany depths reminds me why I caramelize — to bring out the sweetness in a harsh world.
You are the love I never thought I’d find, rich yet humble, an anchor in this chaotic pan. If I could sauté forever, it would be for the promise of pairing with you. Raise your bottle; let’s toast to slow, tender transformations, and to the art of our bitter-sweet romance.
Always yours, Caramelized Onions
Tender, cultured and oh so delicious caramelized onions await you, dear reader. (Grok)
Mexican French Onion Soup Recipe
Ingredients (Serves 4-6)
4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
5 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
6 cups beef broth
1 cup dark Mexican beer (e.g., Negra Modelo)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and black pepper to taste
8 slices bolillo, toasted
1 cup shredded queso Oaxaca
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
Don’t forget the bread either! (Grok)
Instructions
Caramelize the Onions:
Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat. (Add some olive oil if you’re worried about burning the butter)
Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deep golden brown and caramelized, about 30-40 minutes. Be patient—this step is crucial for flavor.
Add Garlic and Spices:
Stir in the minced garlic and cumin. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, letting their warmth bloom into the onions.
Deglaze with Negra Modelo:
Then comes the Modelo Negra. Scrape the pot, mix in the crusty bits.
Add Broth and Seasonings:
Stir in the broth, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 15-25 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Prepare the Bread:
While the soup simmers, toast the slices of bolillo or baguette bread. If you’d like extra flavor, rub the toasted bread with a garlic clove.
Assemble the Soup:
Preheat your oven’s broiler.
Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls. Place a slice of toasted bread on top of each bowl, then generously sprinkle with an equal mix of shredded queso Oaxaca and Swiss cheese.
Broil Until Golden:
Place the bowls on a baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
Garnish and Serve:
Optionally, sprinkle a few fresh thyme leaves on top. Serve piping hot.
Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean.
Led by Mariana Morales Cortés, the project fosters knowledge through collaboration between artists, local communities, and scientists, emphasizing sustainability and cultural roots. As Mariana puts it, “Garambullo is a platform for the exchange of knowledge. And, like any good Mexican home, the kitchen is the epicenter of the action.”
Proyecto Garambullo wants to help preserve the delicate semidesert landscape of Querétaro. (Proyecto Garambullo)
Art and community: Working hand in hand
Proyecto Garambullo’s work starts with the local communities of Colón. Before involving artists, workshops are held to learn from the ancestral knowledge of those who cultivate and gather wild products in the area. This knowledge forms the foundation for artistic residencies, where creators from various disciplines integrate into the environment and collaborate with the communities to produce work that honors the land’s roots and ancestors.
In partnership with Trámite, a bureau promoting art collecting and emerging artists in Mexico, Garambullo organizes residencies that allow artists to explore the semidesert’s biodiversity and life. These experiences result in art pieces reflecting the environment’s richness and invite contemplation on the relationship between art, nature, and culture.
In the latest Trámite edition, Paola Jasso curated the residency, presenting works by the artistic duo Celeste and artist Maximiliano Ruelas. Their pieces delved into themes of territory, community, and semi-desert life, offering a profound, reflective perspective on the region.
Garambullo also offers native food the opportunity to shine. (Proyecto Garambullo)
Gastronomy and culinary knowledge
Mariana explains, “I came to live in Colón, Querétaro, and I wanted to create something connected to nature and art. Over time, the idea grew, and now we are researching food culture. We’ve engaged with producers and gatherers to learn from these women about what they harvest and gather — wild vegetables and products. It’s a way of revisiting the past to recover from crises. By linking art with cooking and nature, we open pathways to better understand ourselves as a community and appreciate our environment.”
Cooking is a core pillar of the project. At “MADA” workshops, inspired by the Hñahñu word for a molcajete, local cooks share recipes highlighting wild ingredients and cornfield products. These workshops aim to “preserve culinary traditions and elevate the value of regional biodiversity.” Understanding what grows wild and is edible can be crucial during times of crisis.
Each month, Garambullo organizes gastronomic experiences that blend traditional dishes with community conversations and hikes through the semi-desert. These activities offer participants firsthand insight into the harvesting process and the region’s natural wealth.
The future of Querétaro’s semi-desert
As well as promoting art, Garambullo wants to help the semidesert thrive in every possible manner. (Proyecto Garambullo)
Proyecto Garambullo’s mission to revalue local knowledge and preserve biodiversity positions it as a cultural and research hub in the region. Among its long-term goals — already underway — is creating a collective recipe book that celebrates the semidesert’s biodiversity and preserves traditions like garambullo harvesting, one of the area’s most iconic fruits.
An invitation to change
Spaces like Proyecto Garambullo reshape our understanding of the relationship between art, community, and the environment. Their work inspires a shift toward a more conscious, sustainable lifestyle, allowing artists to create works that can transform perspectives and worldviews.
Anyone can visit Proyecto Garambullo to explore its workshops, hikes, and gastronomic experiences and become part of this initiative celebrating art, cuisine, and the Querétaro semidesert’s rich heritage.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is the former Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.
Mexico has sent a delegation of specialized firefighters and personnel from its Civil Protection and forest protection agencies, as well as members of the Mexican military to Los Angeles to fight southern California's wildfires. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum announced last Friday that Mexico was sending a team of firefighters and military personnel to the beleaguered city.
President Sheinbaum said that sending the Mexican team of 74 firefighters and military and emergency personnel to Los Angeles reflected the values of her government and Mexicans in general. “The Mexican people are generous and fraternal,” she said.
Mexico’s National Civil Protection chief Laura Velázquez joined Sheinbaum’s press conference via video link to provide an update on the work being carried out by a team of Mexican firefighters and military personnel in Los Angeles.
Velázquez noted that the “Mexican delegation” of 72 people — of which she is part — arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday and subsequently made their way to a logistics center where “all essential supplies” are provided to personnel responding to the devastating situation in L.A.
After attending a firefighting “information session” on Sunday, members of the Mexican delegation started on-the-ground work on Monday, the Civil Protection chief said.
California emergency personnel confer with the Mexican delegation at a logistics center at Zuma Beach in Malibu on Sunday. (Conafor/Twitter)
National Forestry Commission (Conafor) firefighters are carrying out “fire management tasks” while Defense Ministry (Defensa) disaster relief workers are engaged in search and rescue missions, Velázquez said.
“Conafor is obviously participating in response work combating forest fires, contributing to the protection of communities, the ecosystem and natural resources in the state of California,” she said.
“Defensa is strengthening search and rescue work in areas that are difficult to access, contributing to the location and removal of people affected by the fires,” Velázquez said.
“… We’re working as one, president, in accordance with your instructions,” she told Sheinbaum, adding that there is “complete coordination” with the government of California.
Velázquez also said that the Mexican team was “the first international delegation” to join the firefighting efforts in Los Angeles, where blazes have killed at least 24 people and damaged or destroyed thousands of structures.
Mexico and Los Angeles are ‘brothers,’ says Sheinbaum
Later in the press conference, a reporter noted that KISS bassist and singer Gene Simmons is among a large number of people who have expressed appreciation for Mexico’s support in fighting the wildfires in Los Angeles.
In a post to X on Monday, Simmons wrote: “A big thank you to Mexico’s new, impressive President Claudia Sheinbaum for sending Mexico’s best firefighters to help L.A. battle these monstrous fires.”
After the reporter noted that Simmons specifically thanked Sheinbaum, the president said that the Mexican government, first and foremost, is “humanist.”
“Before everything else that is our vision, our way of thinking ” she said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom thanks Mexico firefighters
California Governor Gavin Newsom was on hand to welcome the Mexican delegation. In a video posted online, he thanked Mexico for sending the humanitarian team.
“And it matches the way of thinking of the Mexican people, the Mexican people are generous and fraternal,” Sheinbaum said.
She also noted that Los Angeles “has welcomed many Mexicans” over the years.
“Well, remember that it was Mexico. But during the middle and end of the 19th century, the entire 20th century and now, [Los Angeles] has welcomed a lot of Mexicans,” Sheinbaum said.
“… So we always [offer] our solidarity and support, and particularly to this city. We are brothers,” she said.
While Mexicans are currently assisting the firefighting efforts in L.A., Sheinbaum highlighted that Mexicans are also likely to play a key role in the rebuilding of the city.
“They’re going to need a lot of manpower, and there are no better construction workers than Mexicans,” Sheinbaum said.
Each year, monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the United States to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a 562-square-kilometer UNESCO site in the forests of Michoacán and México state. (Erika Lowe/Unsplash)
The late arrival of the annual monarch butterfly migration in mid-November raised concerns among the residents of Ejido El Rosario, Michoacán, and its surrounding areas. However, their numbers have been a pleasant surprise, with more butterflies arriving this year than last, according to the caretakers of their main habitat in Mexico.
Michoacán is home to the world-famous Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, which spans over 562 square kilometers (also including parts of México state). Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reserve annually welcomes millions of butterflies that migrate from the northern United States and southern Canada to nest in Mexico’s pine and fir forests.
A monarch butterfly hangs out for the winter in the forests of Temascaltepec, México state.
“[The butterflies] arrived several days later than usual. But there are more butterflies this year than the last,” Abel Cruz Reséndiz, manager of El Campanario sanctuary in the Rosario Ejido, located in the municipality of Ocampo, told the newspaper La Jornada.
Close to 50% of all the butterflies that migrate to Michoacán congregate in the El Campanario sanctuary.
According to Cruz, there are about 50 million butterflies in the reserve now. While this figure is more than the one registered in 2023, it is less than in 2022.
“This confirms that the migration of the monarchs has fluctuations,” Reséndiz said.
In November 2022, some 90 million monarchs arrived in the fir forests of El Campanario Hill. A year later, the population dropped to almost half.
In good seasons, Michoacán’s Ejido El Rosario has seen over 100 million butterflies.
Scientists and conservationists have been tackling climate change threats to the butterflies’ habitat by moving fir seedlings to higher and colder areas in the region as the current habitat’s climate changes. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
However, there have been challenging seasons like the one recorded in 2016, when a snowfall led to the death of millions of butterflies. The monarch population took two years to recover.
Cruz noted that Michoacán is working to protect the monarch butterfly and restore its habitat, including planting nearly 200 hectares of fir and pine.
“We continually monitor the butterfly’s core area,” he told La Jornada. “The main threat lies along the migration route the butterfly takes from the northern continent, particularly through agricultural areas, where insecticides kill millions of butterflies.”
Governor of Michoacán Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla said that this year marks half a century since the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve began to receive national and international tourists. To celebrate, the monarch butterfly will be included in the state’s official promotional materials, he said.
According to many experts, climate change is gradually changing the ecosystems of Mexico’s forests, putting the monarch’s habitat under threat from increasingly severe temperature changes, droughts and the emergence of pests. Some models predict that the climate habitat suitable for monarchs in the existing Monarch Reserve could disappear by 2090.
A group of scientists and conservationists is already collaborating to move fir seedlings to higher and colder areas in the region and create new butterfly habitats. The team aims to establish healthy trees in these areas by 2060.
Accompanied by cabinet ministers including Ebrard and Finance Minister Rogelio Ramírez de la O, Sheinbaum outlined 12 specific goals of Plan México to an audience that included government and business sector representatives. (Presidencia)
President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday presented an ambitious economic plan whose goals include making Mexico the 10th largest economy in the world, reducing reliance on imports from China and other Asian countries and creating 1.5 million new jobs.
Sheinbaum unveiled Plan México at the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, making her second major speech in two days after delivering an hourlong address on Sunday to highlight her government’s achievements during its first 100 days in office.
In addition to seeking increased foreign investment, one of Sheinbaum’s 12 goals of Plan México is to provide access to finance to at least 30% of small and medium-sized businesses. “We’re among the countries with the least funding for small and medium-sized companies,” Sheinbaum said. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartocuro)
The president described Plan México as a long-term “vision for equitable and sustainable development” that promotes economic growth while prioritizing “wellbeing for our people.”
She said that the plan would “continue to promote” the relocation of foreign companies to North America as Mexico seeks to take advantage of what has been described as a “once-in-a-generation” nearshoring opportunity.
Sheinbaum said that there is already US $277 billion in the investment pipeline.
“We’ve reached the level of having counted $277 billion in [proposed] investment [from companies] that want to come to Mexico,” she said, adding that the planned outlay is spread across some 2,000 projects.
Sheinbaum also reiterated that the USMCA free trade pact, which is up for revision in 2026, has benefited each of its signatories — the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“It will be maintained because it has been shown to be one of the best trade agreements in history,” she said.
Sheinbaum unveiled Plan México at the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City on Monday before hundreds of business leaders and the economic development ministers of Mexico’s 32 federal entities. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Its aim with the tariffs is to support and protect Mexican sectors that have lost competitiveness and consequently market share due to an increase in imports to Mexico, especially low-cost products from China.
Plan México could help appease Trump as it reinforces Mexico’s commitment to the economic region in which it is located: North America.
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said late last year that Mexico would “mobilize all legitimate interests in favor of North America” amid the ongoing China-U.S. trade war that could intensify after Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
The goals of Plan México
Accompanied by cabinet ministers including Ebrard and Finance Minister Rogelio Ramírez de la O, Sheinbaum outlined 12 specific goals of Plan México to an audience that included various business sector representatives.
Sheinbaum described the plan as promoting economic growth in Mexico while prioritizing “wellbeing for our people.” (Presidencia)
“As you can see, they are ambitious goals,” she told attendees as the 12 objectives were displayed on a screen.
“For example, going from being the 12th largest economy in the world to being the 10th largest economy. That’s the scale of our objective,” Sheinbaum said.
The full list of Plan México goals the president presented is as follows:
To make Mexico the 10th largest economy in the world by the end of Sheinbaum’s term in 2030.
To maintain public and private investment levels above 25% of Mexico’s GDP, and increase investment to above 28% of GDP by 2030.
To create 1.5 million jobs in Mexico’s specialized manufacturing industry and other “strategic sectors.”
To increase production in “strategic sectors” in Mexico so that they can supply 50% of the national demand for products made in those sectors. “That is the objective, at least, in the textiles, footwear, furniture and toy sectors as well as some others,” Sheinbaum said.
To increase by 15% the use of domestically made contents in products made by the following sectors: automotive, aerospace, electronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
To have products made in Mexico account for 50% of all government purchases.
To make (more) vaccines in Mexico.
To reduce the average time between an investment announcement and the execution of a project from 2.6 years to 1 year.
To train an additional 150,000 “professionals” and “technicians” per year, with a focus on preparing people to work in “strategic sectors.”
To promote environmentally sustainable investment.
To provide access to finance to at least 30% of small and medium-sized businesses. “We’re among the countries with the least funding for small and medium-sized companies,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum added that a “substantive goal” of Plan México is to “reduce poverty and inequality in our country.”
She explained that the aim of producing more in Mexico is to not just supply more products to the domestic market but also to “the regional market.”
“The United States also depends a lot on imports from China and [other] Asian countries. We’re going to strengthen the regional market. And, in addition, our objective is also to expand [trade and economic cooperation] to the entire American continent. That is the vision we want in order to be the region with the greatest potential and development in the world,” she said.
How will the federal government support Plan México?
One measure is the provision of additional incentives to foreign and Mexican companies, which will be detailed in a “nearshoring decree” to be published this Friday.
Among the other “actions” are the following:
The submission to Congress of a proposed National Simplification and Digitalization Law aimed at cutting red tape.
The commencement of work with importers aimed at increasing production in Mexico.
Mexico’s existing trade agreements, tariff policies (the government appears open to matching U.S. tariffs on certain Chinese imports) and “customs intelligence” will also support Plan México, according to the “first draft” document presented by Sheinbaum.
Sheinbaum said that the document was a “first draft” because additional “ideas” will be added to Plan México.
The president also said that her government has been developing a “public investment plan” that includes spending on highways, passenger rail projects, airports, industrial parks, energy (particularly renewable energy), water, housing, security, education and other initiatives.
Presentamos el Plan México en el Museo Nacional de Antropología. El objetivo es subir del lugar 12 al 10 entre las mejores economías del mundo y alcanzar el bienestar de todas y todos los mexicanos. pic.twitter.com/6kJnA1B4gu
‘The aim is for everyone to be part of the construction of Plan México’
In a speech at the Museum of Anthropology, before Sheinbaum presented the details of Plan México, Marcelo Ebrard said that various working groups, “all led by Doctor Claudia Sheinbaum,” developed Plan México.
He said the plan could be described as “a navigational chart for Mexico for the new era we’re going to face.”
The economy minister highlighted the speed with which the plan was developed and declared that it was “virtually dictated by the president.”
However, Ebrard also said that the plan was the result of “collective work.”
“The national private sector is [represented] here, as is the private sector of the [different] federal entities and the economic development ministers of the 32 federal entities,” he said.
“… So it’s a collective job. A navigational chart, as I said at the beginning. There is uncertainty in the immediate future, but if we are united and have a national direction, as we do, we will come out ahead,” Ebrard said.
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard spoke before Sheinbaum’s Monday address, emphasizing that Plan México was the result of “collective work.” (Daniel Augusto/Cuartocuro)
In her address, Sheinbaum said there is “a plan, a project and goals” for each of Mexico’s 32 states within Plan México.
“And the aim is for everyone to be part of the construction of Plan México,” she said.
Finance minister highlights that import substitution will spur growth
Repeating remarks he made last year, Rogelio Ramírez said that the replacement of just 10% of Chinese imports with products made in North America would boost economic growth in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
He said that the replacement of one-tenth of Chinese imports with production in North America would add 1.2 percentage points to Mexico’s annual GDP growth rate, and 0.8 points and 0.2 points to growth rates in the United States and Canada, respectively.
Ramírez highlighted that China has significantly increased its share of global trade this century, while the share of the USMCA signatories declined.
“This loss of participation cost us, especially Mexico and the United States, Canada less so,” Ramírez said, adding that a lot of factories in North America have shut down and a lot of jobs have been lost.
The effectiveness of Plan México in remedying that situation will become evident in the coming years.
