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1. Guidelines for the implementation of the “Chair Law”

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) published supplementary guidelines to the so-called “Chair Law,” which aims to regulate breaks for those who work long hours in a standing position. These guidelines seek to establish how long active breaks should last, how often they should occur, and the minimum number of chairs required per work group. In addition, they will establish the basic characteristics that seats with backrests provided by employers must have, from adjustment and support standards to ergonomics and stability.

Although specific rest times have not yet been defined, specialists agree that companies should already begin by identifying positions that require prolonged standing, adjusting their internal regulations, and implementing mechanisms to verify and certify the granting of breaks. In this regard, companies must analyze whether the seats should be in the same workplace or in common areas, as well as train staff and document the measures, to avoid penalties and comply with the internal deadline of 180 days granted to them to adapt to the regulations.

El Economista: Ley Silla: ¿Qué esperar de los lineamientos que emitirá la STPS?

2. Trump adds a 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes

Donald Trump announced the imposition of a 17% tariff on imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. The argument for imposing this tariff is that Mexican producers offer the product at a lower price than US producers, thereby affecting the US market.

Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the measure and pointed out that Mexican tomatoes will continue to be exported, even with the tariff, because there is no substitute. She announced that she has plans to support Mexican producers and endorsed the statement from the Ministry of Economy in which the new tariff was described as “unfair,” noting that if the tariff is maintained, the most immediate effect will likely be on tomato consumers in the United States, since two out of every three tomatoes consumed in the country come from Mexico, according to official figures.

BBC News Mundo: 3 efectos que pueden tener los aranceles que Trump impuso a los tomates mexicanos

3. Donald Trump announces 30% tariffs on Mexico

Donald Trump announced that he will impose a 30% tariff on all Mexican exports to the United States starting August 1, 2025, arguing that Mexico has failed to curb fentanyl trafficking and irregular migration, in addition to maintaining a growing trade surplus with the US. The measure will be added to existing sectoral tariffs: 50% on steel, 25% on aluminum, and 15% on automobiles, which could rise to 25% if the USMCA rules of origin are not met. Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the US already applied 25% tariffs for national security reasons, but it remains to be seen whether the new 30% tariff will replace or be added to the previous ones.

Although 83% of Mexican imports are currently exempt from tariffs, only 47% meet the requirements established by the USMCA, which could expose more goods to sanctions. Trump warned that any attempt by Mexico to respond with reciprocal measures will result in a proportional increase in tariffs on US products. He also indicated that companies established in Mexico that move their production to the US will be exempt, and that tariffs may be adjusted if the flow of drugs and migrants is curbed.

La Jornada: Anuncia Donald Trump 30% de aranceles a México

4. Presidency files defamation suit after accusations of alleged links to drug trafficking

President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly rejected the statements made by Ovidio Guzmán’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, who insinuated alleged links between the Mexican government and drug trafficking. Sheinbaum described these claims as false, slanderous, and baseless, emphasizing that they are part of a defense strategy without evidence that seeks to discredit the Mexican state. She clarified that she will not allow the image of the country or her government to be tarnished and assured that Guzmán’s arrest and extradition were carried out in accordance with the law.

In response, the Federal Executive’s Legal Counsel filed a defamation lawsuit against Lichtman, stating that such unfounded accusations cannot be allowed. Sheinbaum reiterated that her administration will maintain a firm stance against organized crime and any attempt to falsely link it to it.

El Universal: Sheinbaum: Ya se puso la demanda contra abogado de Ovidio Guzmán; “para mí ya no es tema”, señala 

5. Alert for risk of blackouts in July due to high electricity demand

The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the National Energy Control Center (Cenace) warned of a real risk of blackouts, due to a combination of high electricity demand caused by the intense heat wave and increased industrial consumption, which accounts for more than 60% of total usage, especially in states such as Nuevo León, Coahuila, Chihuahua, the State of Mexico, Querétaro, Jalisco, and Yucatán. The Operating Reserve Margin (MRO) of the National Interconnected System, which usually remains above 12%, fell to 9.69% during the peak recorded on June 9, when demand reached a maximum of 52,945 MW; which has caused outages for more than 335,000 industrial users and affected operations in industrial parks, particularly in Coahuila.

President Claudia Sheinbaum clarified that the alert does not imply a punishment for companies, but rather a suggestion aimed at balancing demand by avoiding overloads, especially between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., and urged them to shift part of their consumption to times of lower activity. She emphasized that capacities have been strengthened through increased generation, maintenance of emergency plants, and the inauguration of inherited facilities, in addition to ongoing tenders for new infrastructure. Despite this, specialists such as Quartux warn that industrial demand increased by 5.4% year-on-year and that, if there is no investment in substations and transmission lines, estimated at $5 billion annually, the system will remain vulnerable during heat waves.

El Economista: CFE y Cenace alertan por riesgo de apagones en julio ante alta demanda eléctrica