1. Mexico will preside over the UN Security Council

On November 1st, Mexico assumed the Security Council of the United Nations (UN) chair. The country will seek to work on issues such as corruption, inequity, and economic exclusion. In addition, it will propose discussing arms trafficking and its impact on international security.

The World Justice Project (WJP) published its Rule of Law 2021 index. The report disclosed that Mexico’s position remained stagnant for five years, with a 2.9% drop compared to 2020, placing it 113th out of 139 countries. Its structural security challenges persist despite significant spending on security forces, especially the military.

El Financiero: México asume presidencia de Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU.
El Economista: Estado de Derecho en México, sin avances: WJP.

2. Mexico accomplishes economic recovery in October

Economic activity in Mexico improved at the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2021. After decreasing during the third quarter of the year, the Mexican Institute of Finance Executives (IMEF) stated that an increase in mobility boosted recovery in other sectors, which allowed a rapid recovery of private formal employment and private consumption.

Likewise, the economic rebound in the United States boosted growth in the Mexican economy, triggering a quick recovery in the manufacturing sector despite a shortage of some key inputs for the automotive industry. Manufacturing output registered an increase of 0.8 points in October compared with September.

El Financiero: Actividad economía en México apunta a mejoría en octubre: IMEF.

3. Mexico adheres to climate pacts at COP-26

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Relations (SRE), as represented by the Head of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), María Luisa Albores, signed agreements during the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change, which took place in Glasgow, Scotland. The government signed onto the Declaration on Forests and Land Use along with 105 countries, pledging to work to halt and reverse forest lost and land degradation by 2030.

The event highlighted contributions of USD $19.2 billion in private and public funds to finance more climate projects. The signatory countries agreed to maintain the Paris Agreement commitments. In addition, several world leaders committed to reduce methane gas emissions, which caused 30% of accumulated global warming.

Excélsior: México se suma a pactos climáticos en la COP26.
Expansión Política: México suscribe declaración sobre bosques y uso de la tierra de la COP26.

4. Legislators plan to regulate double tow trucks

The Parliamentary Group of Morena promoted an initiative to prohibit double-trailer freight transportation on federal highways. The proposal suggests banning vehicles that weigh more than 66.5 tons and are longer than 31 meters. Senator Elí Cervantes Rojas (Morena) presented an amendment that seeks to regulate the use of double trailer trucks throughout the country.

Likewise, legislators of the Green Party (PVEM) proposed similar changes to the law. In previous legislatures, other parties also proposed initiatives that regulated these trucks. Mexico has more than 40,000 double trailer tracks, or 8% of its total vehicle fleet.

El Financiero: Van por ley que regule dobles remolques.
Milenio: PVEM propone prohibir circulación de vehículos de doble remolque.

5. Electricity Reform discussion postponed to 2022

Legislators from the Morena, Labor (PT), and Green Party (PVEM) agreed that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Electricity Reform proposal will be postponed. Energy Committee legislators from these parties assured that they will address initiative requests in future meetings.

In addition, the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, expressed his concern about the initiative specifics. The Secretary of Foreign Relations, Marcelo Ebrard, affirmed that he is discussing the electricity reform with the US government. The initiative generated reactions from 40 US congressmen, who were opposed to the exclusion of private companies from the energy sector. The discussion will be postponed until April 2022.

El Financiero: Posponen discusión de Reforma Eléctrica de AMLO para 2022.
El Universal: Hay diálogo con EU sobre la reforma eléctrica: SRE.
El Economista: Gobierno de AMLO discrimina a empresas privadas para apoyar a CFE y Pemex: 40 legisladores de EU.