Trump’s immigration and trade pressure again loomed large. The NYT ran an op-ed from California leaders warning that stepped-up ICE raids are leaving strawberries and lettuce to rot in the fields, given over 80% of the workforce comes from Mexico. At the border, the same squeeze is being felt by truckers: NYT reported from Nuevo Laredo classrooms where drivers now cram through six-week English courses to comply with Trump’s revived language mandate.
Tariffs too brought fresh consequences. Reuters reported U.S. truck makers are facing higher costs as rivals shift assembly to Mexico to qualify under USMCA, in effect pushing production south rather than protecting it at home. The turmoil is spilling into trade flows: AP said Mexico’s postal service suspended shipments to the U.S. amid confusion over new duties on low-value packages, while Bloomberg noted Sheinbaum’s government is preparing tariff hikes on Chinese goods in its 2026 budget, a long-sought demand from Washington. And in a sign of shifting regional trade, Bloomberg added that Brazil, squeezed by U.S. tariffs, is turning to Mexico, with inspections of Brazilian beef plants set to expand access as Mexico has already overtaken the U.S. as its second-largest buyer.
Security remained in the spotlight. In Brooklyn, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada pleaded guilty to sweeping trafficking charges, admitting decades of bribes to politicians, police and generals. The LA Times highlighted speculation he could yet expose high-level corruption, while El País underlined how the opposition quickly seized on his remarks, and Trump’s hardline posture, to go on the offensive against Sheinbaum’s Morena. The NYT also offered a rare look inside the Sinaloa Cartel, based on yearlong reporting with its operatives, portraying the organization as a transnational business adapting to pressure from both Washington and Mexico City. And the FT reported U.S. Treasury warnings that China-linked networks may have laundered over $300 billion through U.S. banks in recent years, often on behalf of Mexican cartels, a reminder that the fentanyl trade sits at the intersection of global finance, politics, and security.
On the economic front, Le Monde hailed a “historic” fall in poverty, with over 13 million Mexicans lifted out since 2018, largely thanks to minimum wage hikes. Bloomberg reported inflation undershot forecasts at 3.49%, and warned that a slowdown in remittances (down 5% this year) could sap the peso’s rally. Together, the reports painted a mixed picture of social progress, fragile growth, and external pressures weighing on Mexico’s outlook.
Shifting gears, AP reported the viral quinceañera of Isela Santiago Morales in San Luis Potosí. What began as a sparsely attended birthday turned into a stadium-sized celebration after a Facebook post drew thousands, bands played through the night, and local authorities even gifted her land and a scholarship. The story, echoing the famous “Rubi” quinceañera of 2016, became a national symbol of community solidarity and cultural tradition. Meanwhile, The Guardian looked at Mexico City’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, reporting that the expansion of the iconic Azteca Stadium has sparked community backlash over water shortages, green space, and rising costs for neighbors living in its shadow.
Lastly, on this week’s MexMoves, Damian and Eduardo sit down with Valeria Moy, director of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), for a reality check on the government’s plans to jumpstart the economy. They also break down reports on possible Mexican tariffs against Chinese imports from cars to textiles. Plus: Nutrisa’s push to list shares on the Bolsa, the latest on Fibra NEXT, and how crypto platform Bitso is betting big on stablecoins. You can listen to it here.
Photo of the Week
After her father’s Facebook post about a sparsely attended quinceañera went viral, Isela Santiago Morales rode to a stadium in Axtla de Terrazas, where thousands turned out to celebrate. Photo by Mauricio Palos for AP News
FOREIGN PRESS COVERAGE
Tariffs-Hit Brazil Seeks Mexico Consent for More Beef Plants
08/28/2025, Bloomberg, Clarice Couto
US warns China-linked groups may be laundering billions for Mexican cartels
08/28/2025, Financial Times, Christine Murray
Mexico to Raise Tariffs on Imports From China After US Push
08/27/2025, Bloomberg, Eric Martin
Mexico’s Remittance Slowdown Could Stop Peso Rally, BofA Says
08/27/2025, Bloomberg, Kelsey Butler
Mexico suspends postal shipments to the US over latest tariff confusion
08/27/2025, AP, Megan Janetsky
US truck makers look for cover as Trump’s tariffs raise costs
08/27/2025, Reuters, Abhinav Parmar
BOE’s Mann Calls for Rates to Hold Steady Amid Sticky Prices
08/27/2025, Bloomberg, Tom Rees and Philip Aldrick
Mexican opposition embraces Trump’s pressure to gain strength against Sheinbaum
08/27/2025, El País, Elena San José
On the Ground With a Top Mexican Cartel
08/27/2025, The New York Times, John Otis
Mexico records a historic drop in poverty
08/27/2025, Le Monde, Anne Vigna
Cartel boss ‘El Mayo’ pleads guilty. Will he spill secrets about corruption in Mexico?
08/26/2025, Los Angeles Times, Keegan Hamilton
Wilted Lettuce. Rotten Strawberries. Here’s What Happens When You Round Up Farmworkers.
08/25/2025, The New York Times, Robert Rivas and Shannon Douglass
A Chinese E-Commerce Glut Is Meeting Resistance in Latin America
08/25/2025, Bloomberg, Ken Parks and Stephan Kueffner
Faced With Trump’s English Mandate, Mexico’s Truckers Report to Class
08/25/2025, The New York Times, James Wagner and Meridith Kohut
Mexico Inflation Undershoots Forecasts as Banxico Slows Easing
08/25/2025, Bloomberg, Alex Vasquez and Andrew Rosati
From empty party to an all-night stadium bash, a Mexican teen’s 15th birthday goes viral
08/25/2025, AP News, Martín Silva
‘We get nothing’: residents fight back as Mexico builds big for 2026 World Cup
08/25/2025, The Guardian, Isabel Woodford
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