GENERAL SITUATION IN MEXICO
Weekly Review I September 3, 2025
US - MEXICO
US-MX Relationship Developments
Security & Organized Crime
• Mayo Zambada’s guilty plea (U.S. court): Accepted responsibility for trafficking and corruption; agreed to forfeit $15 billion USD.
• Confirmed payments to Mexican police, military commanders, and politicians, reinforcing perceptions of systemic complicity.
• Seen as a major victory against cartels, though experts question whether assets will ever be recovered.
• Mexican reaction: President Claudia Sheinbaum demands assets benefit Mexican victims, projecting sovereignty.
• Zambada’s claim of being lured into custody without due process could portray Mexico as weak in defending sovereignty.
• Political fallout: Morena may face legitimacy challenges if collusion allegations remain unaddressed.
• Bilateral implications: U.S. could use cartel instability to pressure Mexico on security cooperation and even trade enforcement under USMCA.
US - MEXICO PRESIDENTIAL NEWS
USMCA Review & Trade Strategy
• Redefining approach: Mexico, led by Marcelo Ebrard and the CCE (Consejo Coordinador Empresarial), is preparing for the 2026 USMCA review.
• Sectoral focus: Unlike 2017–2018 renegotiations, talks will target sectors (auto, steel, aluminum, agriculture, electronics, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors) instead of treaty chapters.
• Semiconductors: A new strategic priority, reflecting shifts in global supply chains.
• Cuarto de Junto role: Business advisory group will align closely with government negotiators to present a unified front.
• Rationale: Aims to respond to U.S. tariff pressures while strengthening Mexico’s integration in North American production networks.
SOURCES: EL FINANCIERO, EL PAÍS, EL ECONOMISTA
Tariffs & China Strategy
• Mexico’s 2026 budget plan: Proposes tariff increases on Chinese imports—notably cars, textiles, and plastics.
• Wider scope: Other Asian exporters (Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia) may also face tariffs due to transshipment concerns.
• Strategic goal: Preemptively address U.S. complaints about Chinese rerouting through Mexico.
• Objective: Protect Mexico from U.S. tariff escalation while maintaining its role as a trusted North American partner
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND INITIATIVES
LABOR
• INITIATIVE WITH DRAFT DECREE AMENDING ARTICLES 263 AND 994, AND ADDING 264 BIS OF THE FEDERAL LABOR LAW
Presented by: Dip. Amancay González Franco (Plurinominal - MC)
Objective: Regulates working conditions in road transport by imposing special obligations on employers such as ensure drivers have 8 hours of sleep before routes, limit driving shifts to 14 hours within a 24-hour period, require a second driver for trips exceeding 9 continuous hours, guaranteeing the first driver an 8-hour rest period.
Status: 2025-08-27 – Published in the Parliamentary Gazette
ENVIRONMENTAL
• INITIATIVE WITH DRAFT DECREE AMENDING ARTICLES 19, 28, 98, AND 102 OF THE GENERAL LAW FOR THE PREVENTION AND INTEGRAL MANAGEMENT OF WASTE
Presented by: Dip. Claudia Sánchez Juárez (MexPVEM)
Objective: Classifies unused textiles and clothing as special management waste. Obligates major producers, distributors, and traders to implement management plans, and mandates federal–state coordination for oversight. SEMARNAT must update regulations and NOM-083-SEMARNAT within 45 days.
Status: 2025-08-27 – Published in the Parliamentary Gazette
CYBERSECURITY
• INITIATIVE WITH DRAFT DECREE ADDING PROVISIONS TO THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL CODE AND THE NATIONAL CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURES
Presented by: Dip. Rubén Ignacio Moreira Valdéz (Plur - PRI)
Objective: Creates a legal framework against cyberterrorism, cyberespionage, identity theft, and data kidnapping, establishing penalties from 2 to 30 years in prison and monetary fines. Grants federal jurisdiction when territoriality cannot be determined.
Status: 2025-08-27 – Published in the Parliamentary Gazette
NEWS BY STATE
BAJA CALIFORNIA
Quasar Medical has acquired Nordson Corporation’s design, development, and contract manufacturing facilities in Galway, Ireland, and Tecate, Mexico, enhancing its global CDMO platform and end-to-end capabilities for medical devices. This strategic move allows Quasar to become a fully integrated organization offering concept-to-commercialization solutions, expanding its workforce by nearly 200 skilled professionals. The Galway site serves as an innovation hub for design, prototyping, and advanced product development in regions including extrusions and complex catheters, while the Tecate facility provides cost-effective, high-volume manufacturing. The acquisition strengthens Quasar’s global presence with FDA-registered, ISO-certified facilities in key regions, enabling faster development, improved quality control, and regional customer access, ultimately positioning Quasar as a comprehensive partner in the medical device industry.
SOURCE: MPO MAGAZINE
NEWS BY STATE
CHIHUAHUA
Chihuahua will become the first state in Mexico to host the international “Mars Challenge” program, an open innovation platform that engages high school and university students in designing sustainable solutions for life on Mars while addressing challenges on Earth. The initiative, launched through agreements signed at the Paris Air Show with Virtual Educa, Space Talent Lab, and FEMIA, seeks to foster STEM vocations, strengthen students’ skills in technology, sustainability, and AI, and connect academia, industry, and government. By bringing Reto Marte to Mexico, Chihuahua positions itself as a strategic player in aerospace and educational innovation, offering young talent global exposure and preparing them for the demands of the future labor market.
SOURCE: MEXICO NOW
NUEVO LEON
Nuevo León, a leader in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry with 123 companies generating over $3.7 billion, will host AHR Expo Mexico 2025 from September 23 to 25 at Cintermex in Monterrey. The exhibition, the largest in nearly three decades in Mexico, will feature 530 exhibitors from 20 countries and over 1,200 brands. The event will showcase solutions in energy efficiency, automation, decarbonization, and air purification, aligning with the global demand for technological advancements and investments. Expecting more than 10,000 visitors, the fair will also include over 120 conferences and a matchmaking program to promote new business opportunities. Additionally, a awareness campaign on energy consumption in air conditioning systems was launched during the event, emphasizing the importance of adopting sustainable and efficient practices to combat climate change and reduce the sector’s carbon footprint.
SOURCE: EL ECONOMISTA
NEWS BY STATE
AGUASCALIENTES
Nissan reaffirmed its confidence in Aguascalientes as one of Mexico’s leading automotive hubs during a meeting between state officials, including Governor Tere Jiménez, and Nissan executives led by Vice President of Manufacturing Joan Busquets. The dialogue focused on strengthening innovation, expanding value chains, and reinforcing the state’s role as a competitive industrial ecosystem. Authorities highlighted Nissan’s long-standing presence as a pillar of regional growth and emphasized interinstitutional collaboration to ensure new investments generate quality jobs and sustainable economic development, positioning Aguascalientes to lead Mexico’s transition in global mobility.
SOURCE: CLUSTER INDUSTRIAL
QUERETARO
Querétaro is seeking to strengthen its role in the semiconductor supply chain by focusing on complementary processes such as printed circuit board (PCB) design, assembly, and packaging—areas with growth potential that require less water than semiconductor fabrication, a challenge for the state. Currently, five to six local companies participate in these activities, serving sectors like home appliances. To attract new investment, Querétaro will promote its capabilities at international events, including a semiconductor expo in Anaheim, with the goal of replicating the evolution seen in its automotive industry, which shifted from parts production to complete systems. The state is positioning itself among Mexico’s emerging hubs for semiconductor-related activities identified by USAID and FUMEC.
SOURCE: EL ECONOMISTA
NEWS BY STATE
MEXICO CITY
The Government of Mexico City announced a 489 million peso investment through 2030 to strengthen composting and recycling infrastructure under its Basura Cero program, with the goal of processing 50% of the city’s waste. Mayor Clara Brugada detailed plans to modernize the Bordo Poniente composting plant with 170 million pesos and build four new composting facilities in Xochimilco, Tláhuac, Milpa Alta, and Tlalpan, requiring 200 million pesos. An additional 35 million pesos will go toward a plant that recycles used tires into materials like asphalt and waterproofing products, while 85 million pesos will fund 34 new waste collection trucks. Authorities highlighted that organic waste makes up nearly 60% of the city’s garbage, equivalent to 4,804 tons received daily. The initiative seeks to reduce dependence on landfills, which currently absorb 82% of waste, and expand monitoring to prevent poor practices among public and private waste generators.
SOURCE: EL UNIVERSAL
STATE OF MEXICO
Sigma Alimentos, a leading Mexican multinational in refrigerated foods, announced a 336 million peso investment to expand and modernize its plants in Ecatepec, Nezahualcóyotl, Los Reyes La Paz, and Tepotzotlán. The project, to be completed in 2025, will generate 300 new jobs and strengthen the company’s operations in the State of Mexico, where it already employs over 4,500 people across four plants and 13 distribution centers. This announcement adds to a wave of recent investments in the state, including Grupo SOMAR’s 202 million peso expansion in Chalco and Naucalpan, Grupo Corporativo Papelera’s 800 million peso project in Huehuetoca and Tepetlaoxtoc, and Tiendas Neto’s 210 million peso plan to open 55 stores. Together, these initiatives surpass 1.5 billion pesos and will create more than 1,000 new jobs across multiple industries. State officials emphasized that favorable conditions and government support continue to attract and retain investment in the region.
SOURCE: EL ECONOMISTA
INVESTMENT NEWS
NORTHERN MEXICO
SIEMENS
Siemens is investing an additional 7 million dollars in Nuevo León, bringing its total to 72 million dollars to expand molding and low-voltage operations. In 2022, the company broke ground on the Mitras project in Nuevo León, an industrial expansion focused on plastic injection processes, with an initial investment of approximately 65 million dollars aimed at strengthening the region’s production capacity.
CENTRAL MEXICO
TAFE
Indian company TAFE, the world’s third-largest tractor manufacturer, has inaugurated its new assembly plant in Aguascalientes, located in the Vesta Park industrial park. The project represents an investment of 15 million dollars and is expected to generate 250 jobs.
SIGMA
Sigma Alimentos, a leading foods company, announced a 18-million-dollar investment for 2025 to expand its infrastructure across 4 municipalities in the State of Mexico. The project, which will create 300 new jobs, will benefit the municipalities of Ecatepec, Nezahualcóyotl, Los Reyes La Paz, and Tepotzotlán.
SIEMENS
Siemens is allocating an additional 42 million dollars to its operations in Balvanera and Kaizen, bringing the total to 100 million dollars. Last year, Siemens inaugurated its greenfield project at the Kaizen Industrial Park, originally announced in late 2023, and launched optimization operations at the Balvanera plant, both located in Querétaro. These initiatives represented a combined investment of approximately 58 million dollars at the time.
GRUPO SOMAR
Grupo Somar, a Mexican pharmaceutical laboratory conglomerate, announced a 11 million dollars investment to expand production and research capacity at its plant in Chalco, State of Mexico. The project will create 200 new direct jobs.
SOURCES: MEXICO INDUSTRY, MEXICO NOW, CLUSTER INDUSTRIAL, EL ECONOMISTA
PRODENSA INSIGHTS
HOW NEARSHORING SUCCESS DEPENDS ON AI-POWERED TRADE COMPLIANCE
At the 85th National Congress of Customs Brokers (CAAAREM), Prodensa CEO Emilio Cadena emphasized how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping global trade and redefining nearshoring in Mexico. Once dominated by manual processes, trade compliance now relies on smart systems to manage risks, optimize logistics, and prevent costly delays.
AI-powered customs automation, IoT monitoring, and cloud-based security are no longer optional—they are essential for companies establishing shelter or turnkey operations in Mexico. As cyberattacks rise, digital readiness has become a critical factor in supply chain resilience.
Mexico is uniquely positioned to lead this digital customs revolution. The companies that act now will gain a decisive competitive advantage across the USMCA region.
TURNKEY MANUFACTURING IN MEXICO: INSHORING WITH A COMPETITIVE EDGE
Rising costs in Asia and supply chain disruptions are pushing global manufacturers to look closer to home—and Mexico is emerging as the top destination. Through inshoring, companies can partner with a turnkey manufacturing provider to launch and scale operations faster, with less risk.
A turnkey partner manages everything— facility setup, HR, compliance, logistics, and administration—so manufacturers can focus on production and growth. The benefits are clear: speed to market, reduced risk, scalability, and cost efficiency.
Prodensa’s proven inshoring model offers a ready-made launchpad for North American operations, combining flexibility and long-term support. With over 40 years of experience in binational manufacturing, Prodensa helps companies capture Mexico’s workforce, trade, and cost advantages without the delays of going it alone.
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