Tensions in the Mexico-US relationship dominated headlines this week. First, both the NYT and WSJ reported on a leaked directive from President Trump, ordering the Pentagon to prepare for strikes against cartels. Predictably, President Sheinbaum stated any such interventions would be ‘unwelcome’ (looking at the bigger picture, the NYT had an interesting article with the complicated historical context of US interventions in LatAm). Nonetheless, days later the Mexican government shipped a couple dozen drug kingpins to stand trial in the US, and then explained the flyover of an American drone near Mexico City as a ‘request for assistance’ in an investigation on cartel operations. Summing up matters, President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that ‘Mexico does what we tell them to do’, perhaps saying the quiet part out loud.
Staying on bilateral security matters, the New York Times had an impressively reported story on the logistics of smuggling fentanyl into the US. Meanwhile, Reuters reported on the increasingly wide scope of American legal moves, with prosecutors targeting alleged bribes paid to Pemex’s executives, and cartel-related fraud on timeshares in Puerto Vallarta. And in more offbeat news, the NYT profiled Rick Perry, former governor of Texas and one-time presidential hopeful, who now spends time in Tijuana promoting ibogaine, a potent hallucinogenic that made headlines back in June.
There were several pieces on tariff implications. Reuters covered the Mexican government’s imposition of minimum prices for tomato exports, while the WSJ noted GE is set to relocate some production from China and Mexico to the US. The NYT reported carmakers are absorbing some of the impact from tariffs – for now; it also highlighted efforts on both sides of the border to tackle the threat of screwworms. For its part, Bloomberg reported on efforts by Canadian officials to engage their Mexican counterparts.
On the domestic business front, Bloomberg covered Citi’s Jane Fraser visit to Mexico, including a stop at Palacio Nacional, as the US bank moves forward with its plans to spin-off Banamex; it also had an upbeat article on fintech Stori’s path to an eventual IPO. Less cheerfully, the NYT reported on the controversy surrounding Adidas’ ‘Oaxacan-inspired’ new shoes, which were seen as cultural appropriation.
Shifting gears, the Times had a delightful story on a new trend for destination weddings: hiring a shaman to prevent rain. Spoiler alert: results have been mixed. Reuters also reported on Waldog, an AI-powered robot roaming Monterrey, trying to raise awareness about animal abuse and welfare. Meanwhile, the AP had yet another story on the beloved axolotl, with ongoing efforts by scientists to collect its DNA from Mexico City’s canals.
Lastly, on this week’s MexMoves, Damian and Eduardo speak with Ernesto Piedras — one of the country’s leading consultants and experts on the digital economy — about the recent telecom reform. They also cover Western Union’s purchase of rival Intermex, the fallout for Mexican beverage giant Cuervo from Canada’s rejection of U.S.-made spirits, the potential takeover of a controlling stake in Banamex by Chico Pardo, the latest on Mexican fintechs, and the storm over Adidas’s alleged cultural appropriation. You can listen to it here.
Photo of the Week
Though Robyn Panarisi and her husband Blake hired a “rain witch” to keep storms away from their destination wedding in Mexico, umbrellas were required for the ceremony. Photo by Taryn Baxter for The New York Times.
FOREIGN PRESS COVERAGE
Trump Directs Military to Target Foreign Drug Cartels
08/08/25, The New York Times, Helene Cooper et al
Trump Orders Pentagon to Prepare to Target Latin American Drug Cartels
08/08/25, The Wall Street Journal, Lara Seligman et al
These Are Drug Cartels Designated as Terrorists by the U.S.
08/09/25, The New York Times, Lynsey Chutel
Mexico’s President Says U.S. Forces Are Unwelcome in Her Country
08/08/25, The New York Times, Maria Abi-Habib
Trump’s Cartel Order Revives Bitter Memories in Latin America
08/10/25, The New York Times, Simon Romero and Annie Correal
Mexico and Brazil Rebut Trump’s Claims About Violence in Their Cities
08/12/25, The New York Times, Emiliano Rodríguez Mega and Ana Ionova
Under Pressure by Trump, Mexico Sends 26 Accused Cartel Operatives to U.S.
08/12/25, The New York Times, Jack Nicas et al
Mexico Transfers 26 Suspected Cartel Members to U.S.
08/12/25, The Wall Street Journal, Steve Fisher et al
US drone flies over central Mexico in operation requested by Mexican government
08/14/25, BNO News, Carlos Robles
Secret Compartments and Cartel Lookouts: How Fentanyl Reaches the U.S.
08/09/25, The New York Times, Paulina Villegas and Maria Abi-Habib
Texas businessmen indicted for allegedly bribing officials at Mexico’s Pemex
08/11/25, Reuters, Stefanie Eschenbacher
US issues sanctions against Mexican cartel fraud scheme in Puerto Vallarta
08/13/25, Reuters, Benjamín Mejías
The Long, Strange Trip of Rick Perry
08/12/25, The New York Times, Robert Draper
Mexico sets minimum export prices for fresh tomatoes
08/10/25, Reuters, Brendan O’Boyle
GE Appliances Plans $3 Billion U.S. Investment to Help Blunt Tariffs
08/13/25, The Wall Street Journal, John Keilman
Car Companies Are Paying Tariffs So You Don’t Have To
08/09/25, The New York Times, Jack Ewing
Gene Editing and Fly Factories: The Fight Against a Flesh-Eating Pest
08/09/25, The New York Times, Linda Qiu and Alexa Robles-Gil
Alberta Bolsters Canada-Mexico Energy Ties as Trump Upends Trade
08/12/25, Bloomberg, Alex Vasquez
Citi CEO visits Mexico President During Banamex Stake Talks
08/11/25, Bloomberg, Michael O’Boyle and Todd Gillespie
Mexico’s Stori Eyes IPO by 2027 With Trend Toward Profits
08/12/25, Bloomberg, Maria Clara Cobo and Kelsey Butler
Adidas Apologizes After Mexico Criticizes Oaxacan-Inspired Shoe
08/11/25, The New York Times, Michael Levenson
Who’ll Stop the Rain? At Some Weddings, the Answer is a Shaman
08/12/25, The New York Times, Zachary Schwartz
Robot dog in Mexico teaches animal kindness on the streets
08/12/25, Reuters, Alberto Fajardo and Mariana Hernandez
Scientists search for DNA of an endangered salamander in Mexico City’s canals
08/11/25, AP News, María Verza
Download PDF: MI-MexicoForeignPressChatter-081525