Weekly Report September 18th, 2026
Hot Topics TRUMP-SHEINBAUM PHONE CALL AND TRADE TALKS
Presidents Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum spoke by phone on September 16th, 2026, as the United States and Mexico neared a possible understanding on outstanding USMCA issues. A source familiar with the conversation called it “soso” and said it introduced “new topics” that created “a bit of noise.” A U.S. official described the same call as “constructive” and insisted talks remain active and positive; any claim the conversation went poorly was incorrect. Mexican officials had believed they were close to resolving remaining concerns. After a July 2026 round in Mexico City that produced public progress on autos, steel and aluminum, agriculture, labor, and economic security, a fourth formal negotiating round was scheduled for 28–29th September in Washington (rescheduled from an earlier date). The White House and Mexican embassy declined immediate comment. The call occurred amid intensified bilateral work to settle USMCA review issues before U.S. midterm elections, though neither side released a detailed readout of the new topics raised. In Friday's morning press conference, President Sheinbaum mentioned that, although it wasn't publicly announced, it was a scheduled call, where an advance was made on a possible trade agreement between Mexico and the United States. Source: Politico
MORENA SIDELINES “OBRADORISTA” PROFILES IN 2027 CANDIDACIES Morena’s process for 2027 gubernatorial coordinators has, favored figures close to AMLO. Designations included Beatriz Mojica (Guerrero), Carlos Torres Piña (Michoacán, over Raúl Morón), Eugenio Segura (Quintana Roo, close to Mara Lezama), Verónica Díaz (Zacatecas, close to David Monreal), and Julieta Ramírez (Baja California, close to Marina del Pilar). Party president Ariadna Montiel defended a single-round, surveybased method and called for institutional discipline amid chants against “Monrealismo.” The Labor Party protested in Zacatecas; Morena said it would keep talking with allies. Several states remain pending, with a gender balance already tilting toward women. Source: Milenio
SENATE TO OPEN DEBATE ON FOREIGN-INVESTMENT LAW REFORMS
On September 14th, 2026, Senate political coordinator Ignacio Mier Velazco said commissions would begin analyzing President Sheinbaum’s initiative to reform, add to, and repeal parts of the Foreign Investment Law the following week. The bill would create a national-security filter for foreign takeovers: investments seeking more than 49 percent of a Mexican firm above an asset threshold in sensitive sectors would need National Foreign Investment Commission approval. Defense, Navy, and Security ministries would join reviews covering energy, transport, health, communications, mining, data, digital systems, aerospace, defense, AI, robotics, semiconductors, and cybersecurity. Fines for unauthorized transfers could reach 200,000 UMAs. Mier also said consultations on a femicide law were wrapping up and that a dual-nationality constitutional bill from the Chamber of Deputies was expected around September 22nd. Source: Tallapolitica, Senado.mx
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Hot Topics EBRARD COOLS TALK NOVEMBER T-MEC DEAL
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Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico will keep working with the United States on a commercial agreement, but he refused to lock in a deadline before the U.S. midterm elections in November 2026. Reuters had reported that six sources said both governments wanted to accelerate a bilateral pact before those elections. After a civic-military parade in Mexico City, Ebrard answered questions with vague answers.” Asked about Trump’s preference for a pre-November signing, he replied that that was “his point of view.” He would not confirm that Mexico shared that timetable. The piece presents Ebrard as dampening expectations while leaving open continued talks on USMCA-related issues without a public Mexican commitment to finish before November. Source: Milenio
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION ON MAJOR DRUG-TRANSIT AND PRODUCING COUNTRIES
On September 16th, 2026, the State Department released the annual presidential determination listing major illicit-drug transit or producing countries for fiscal year 2027. Mexico remains on the list, alongside China, Colombia, Afghanistan, Burma, and others. Washington credits President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government with larger seizures, dismantled clandestine laboratories, extra forces on the shared border, and U.S.Mexican cooperation that helped eliminate cartel leaders including “El Mencho.” It still says Mexico must do more against “narcoterrorist” organizations that dominate large areas and threaten Americans. The text urges stronger supply-chain integrity, greater private-industry participation, and far more inspections at Mexican ports of entry. It argues current security spending cannot sustain campaigns against cartel finances and networks, and calls for exposing, arresting, and prosecuting corrupt officials who aid cartels. Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, and Colombia are found to have “failed demonstrably,” though aid to some is deemed vital to U.S. interests. Source: State.gov
ECONOMIC PACKAGE PROPOSES A 140% INCREASE IN RAILWAY USE
The Mexican government proposed for its 2027 Economic Package, a raise for certain freight rail concessionaries from 1.25% to 3% of gross revenues after 15 years of operation, which would be a 140% increase. The change was presented through the Federal Rights Law. The package was delivered on September 8th, 2026, and is being reviewed by the Chamber of Deputies' Finance Committee. The legal deadline for this bill to pass both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate is October 31st. Deputies must approve the expenditure Budget by November 15th. Specialists warn that companies may pass some of the extra costs to customers through higher freight train tariffs, which could eventually feed into prices of industrial, agricultural, and automotive goods that are moved by rail. Concessionaires may set tariffs freely, so an automatic rise in merchandise prices is not guaranteed. Newer public projects would likely fall under different rules. Source: ElImparcial
BUSINESS AND HACIENDA TO TALK 2027 ECONOMIC PACKAGE MEASURES
On September 11th, 2026, the Business Coordinating Council, led by José Medina Mora Icaza, held working sessions with Finance Secretary Edgar Amador Zamora and the tax agency (SAT) on the 2027 economic package. Firms that deduct more than 97 percent of income would be capped at that rate; others could deduct 99 percent. Medina Mora said the aim is to bring non-payers into the tax net, but warned the cap hits low-margin wholesalers, supermarket chains, and retail. He welcomed some government adjustments, urged spending cuts rather than relying only on new revenue, and said the package’s core goal is to protect Mexico’s investment grade by lowering the deficit and slowing debt growth. Business also flagged pensions, customslaw changes, and railway concessions. Dialogue with Hacienda and SAT is already underway; no single meeting date was fixed. Source: Jornada
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Legislative and Regulatory Issues: ENVIRONMENT
JUSTICE
ENVIRONMENT
INITIATIVE WITH DRAFT DECREE REFORMING ARTICLE 18 OF THE GENERAL LAW FOR THE PREVENTION AND INTEGRAL MANAGEMENT OF WASTE, ON THE SEPARATION OF URBAN SOLID WASTE
INITIATIVE WITH DRAFT DECREE REFORMING AND ADDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE GENERAL LAW ON THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA HELD BY OBLIGATED SUBJECTS AND OF THE FEDERAL LAW ON THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA HELD BY PRIVATE PARTIES
INITIATIVE WITH DRAFT DECREE ENACTING THE FEDERAL LAW FOR THE PROMOTION OF INVESTMENT, EXPORTS, AND NEARSHORING
Submitted by: Rep. María Graciela Gaitan Díaz (Plurinominal – PVEM) Purpose: To establish that urban solid waste shall preferably be separated into organic and inorganic waste in order to facilitate its use, recycling, valorization, and adequate integral management.
Status: 2026-09-15 – Published in the Parliamentary Gazette
Presented by: Sen. Daniel Barreda Pavón (Campeche – MC)
Purpose: To establish that the data subject shall have the right to portability of their personal data when those data are processed by electronic means, have been provided by the data subject themselves to the controller, and the processing is based on their consent or on a contractual relationship.The exercise of the right to portability shall be independent of the exercise of the rights of access, rectification, cancellation, and opposition, and shall not, by itself, imply the cancellation or erasure of the personal data held by the controller. Status: 2026-09-14 – Published in the Parliamentary Gazette
Presented by: Rep. Eduardo Gaona Domínguez ( – MC) Purpose: To establish the bases for coordination between the Federation and the states and municipalities in order to promote: • National and foreign investment; • The increase and diversification of exports; • The relocation of production chains; • The development of national suppliers; • The generation of formal, high value-added employment; • Innovation and technology transfer; • Training and dual education; • The development of strategic infrastructure; • Environmental sustainability and the efficient use of natural resources; • Balanced regional economic development. Status: 2026-09-14 – Published in the Parliamentary Gazette
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