March 14th, 2025
1. President Sheinbaum hopes tariff pause will be maintained
After the U.S. government put on hold for a month the 25% tariffs on Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum led a public assembly this Sunday in the Zócalo of Mexico City, attended by thousands of people, in which she stated that her country will continue to collaborate to prevent drugs, especially fentanyl, from reaching the U.S.
Regarding the trade dispute with the U.S., she expressed her confidence that the dialogue with President Donald Trump will eliminate his tariff threat. On the topic of the reciprocal tariffs announced for April 3, she expressed that “they would not have to be applied” because they do not exist under the USMCA.
2. Steel and aluminum tariffs begin
The U.S. government began applying tariffs of 25% to all its steel and aluminum imports, including shipments from Mexico. Although countries such as Canada and the European Union announced reciprocal tariffs on U.S. exports, Mexico decided to wait and opt for dialogue with the U.S.
The Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, stated that Mexico will act with “cold blood and firmness” and expressed his confidence that this strategy will lead to a better agreement. He also announced that they will begin a series of consultations with companies related to steel and aluminum, in addition to the automotive industry, and all related companies, in order to evaluate the measures that will be taken to defend these companies, which are expected to take place on April 2.
Proceso: México actuará con “sangre fría y firmeza” ante aranceles al acero y aluminio de Trump: Ebrard
3. Changes in the Ministry of Finance
In the midst of the uncertainty caused by the tariffs, the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, Rogelio Ramírez de la O, resigned from his position. In this regard, the President acknowledged his work for more than four years in the agency and stated that the now former Secretary will be integrated as economic advisor for international affairs. In his place, Edgar Amador Zamora will be the new Secretary of Finance, having served as Undersecretary in the same agency since the beginning of the new government.
These were not the only changes. A few days ago, by presidential decree, the Undersecretary of Revenue, which had been eliminated in 2020 as an austerity measure, was reinstated. President Claudia Sheinbaum proposed to the Chamber of Deputies Carlos Lerma Cotera, director of Altán Redes, as the new Undersecretary of Revenue. She also submitted the name of Roberto Carlos Fernández González as head of the Federal Treasury.
El Economista: Cambios en SHCP: renuncia de Ramírez de la O; Amador Zamora, el nuevo secretario
4. Thousands march for International Women’s Day
Hundreds of thousands of women have marched through the streets of the country’s main cities in defense of equality and in protest, above all, against feminicidal violence. In the case of Mexico City, authorities reported that the mobilization held for International Women’s Day gathered more than 200,000 women. The march was peaceful and concluded with a white balance.
For her part, President Sheinbaum announced 10 concrete actions to benefit women, among them: the delivery of the Pensión Mujeres Bienestar to women between 60 and 63 years of age and the construction of 200 Child Care Centers for working mothers.
Gobierno de México: A la Presidencia de la República llegamos todas: Presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum presenta 10 acciones a favor de las mujeres en el marco del 8M
5. Energy reforms approved
The Chamber of Deputies approved and sent to the Executive a package of eight new laws and reforms that regulate the country’s new energy policy, without making any changes to what was received by the Senate of the Republic. The reforms seek to strengthen state control over the energy sector, prioritizing the public companies Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) and Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). It also includes amendments to regulate the organization and operation of both companies, granting Pemex greater flexibility to partner with private companies and establishing that the CFE must generate at least 54% of the country’s electricity. In addition, lithium is declared a strategic resource, prohibiting its exploitation by private companies.
El Financiero: Diputados aprueban leyes secundarias energéticas: ¿Qué son y cuándo entran en vigor?