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1. French President visits Mexico

During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, Mexico and France reaffirmed their commitment to a world order based on international law, multilateralism, and human rights. Both countries expressed their desire for peaceful solutions to global conflicts and highlighted their alliance in promoting gender equality through feminist foreign policies. In addition, Macron’s invitation to President Claudia Sheinbaum to visit France in 2026 was announced, as part of the celebrations for 200 years of diplomatic relations.

In the economic and trade sphere, the complementarity between the economies of both countries was highlighted, linking the “Mexico Plan” with “France 2030.” The Modernized Global Agreement between Mexico and the European Union was also highlighted as an opportunity to relaunch the Franco-Mexican Strategic Council and generate new investments. It was also agreed to temporarily exchange the Azcatitlán and Boturini codices as part of the policy to recover the pre-Hispanic cultural legacy initiated by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, although it was not specified whether this would be a return or a loan. In terms of cooperation, the continuity of joint initiatives in culture, education, science, and technology was discussed.

El País: Así fue el encuentro entre Claudia Sheinbaum y Emmanuel Macron
Gobierno de México: Declaración conjunta México-Francia

2. Corn Program: Key Strategy for Food Self-Sufficiency

Claudia Sheinbaum presented the “National Native Corn Plan: Corn is the Root,” an initiative aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and preserving the genetic diversity of Mexican corn. This program will benefit 1.5 million farmers, mainly ejido and community members, with the goal of increasing native corn production by 50% by 2030, covering 1.84 million hectares in 29 states across the country.

Strategies include technical support, organizing women farmers into cooperatives to sell tortillas made from native corn, and conserving native seeds. In addition, the program seeks to add value to surplus production through products such as tortilla chips and tostadas with the “Made in Mexico with native corn” seal. This effort will be implemented in stages, beginning in 2026 in seven states and 437 municipalities, with the goal of reaching 1.4 million producers by 2030. This program represents a significant step toward food self-sufficiency in the context of global competition and marketing challenges in markets dominated by genetically modified corn.

Gobierno de México: Gobierno de México presenta Plan Nacional de Maíz Nativo: El Maíz es la Raíz que apoyará a 1.5 millones de campesinas y campesinos

3. Financial Intelligence Unit warns about money laundering in casinos

Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) has stepped up its efforts to combat money laundering in casinos, blocking accounts belonging to 13 establishments located in various states, including Jalisco, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, and Mexico City. These measures stem from investigations that revealed million-dollar cash transactions, international transfers, and the use of unsupervised digital platforms, with flows to countries such as the United States, Romania, and Panama.

In addition, a network linked to the Sinaloa Cartel was identified that used front companies and the bank details of ordinary people to simulate transactions of up to 50 million pesos. Among the casinos identified are subsidiaries of TV Azteca, owned by Grupo Salinas. The Ministry of the Interior immediately suspended the operation of these establishments, while affected users will be able to prove their amounts to the UIF in order to be recognized as legitimate creditors.

El Financiero: UIF vs casinos: presentarán denuncias ante la FGR por lavado de dinero contra 13 establecimientos

4. Reform of the General Import and Export Tax Law halted

The Chamber of Deputies decided to “freeze” the proposal to modify the General Import and Export Tax Law (LIGIE), which sought to increase tariffs by up to 50% on products from Asia. This initiative, promoted by the federal executive branch, aimed to protect domestic production and strengthen supply chains, but was postponed until August 2027 to allow for a more in-depth technical and economic analysis.

The reform proposed adjustments to 1,463 tariff items, with average increases of 35%, which would have impacted key sectors such as automotive, electronics, and textiles. Although this decision halts its immediate implementation, the reform of the Customs Law and the LIGIE for 2025 remains in place, with proposals to modernize customs operations, combat tax evasion, and establish greater controls and penalties.

El Financiero: ¿Diputados contradicen a Ebrard? ‘Congelan’ cobro de aranceles a países de Asia

5. Deputies approve reform to curb abusive card charges

The Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved a reform to the Law on Transparency and Regulation of Financial Services, aimed at protecting users from abusive practices related to bank cards. Among the most significant changes is the prohibition on issuing credit or debit cards without the express consent of the user, as well as the elimination of undue charges for unauthorized commissions, insurance, or benefits.

The reform also guarantees the right to cancel cards without penalty, offering accessible mechanisms for immediate blocking and termination of the contract within a maximum period of five business days. In addition, it establishes the obligation to reimburse undue charges within five days and ensures that all information on costs and conditions is clear and accessible. In the words of Representative Ricardo Monreal Avila, who promoted the reform, this initiative seeks to curb abuses that affect users’ finances and strengthen transparency in financial services.

El Financiero: ‘Manotazo’ a los bancos: Diputados aprueban reforma para frenar abusos en cobros por tarjetas