Overview
With just seven days until the critical deadline set by the U.S. President to avoid tariff hikes against Mexico and advance a long-term trade agreement, Mexico’s chief negotiator, Marcelo Ebrard, expressed a sense of responsible optimism. Despite acknowledging that issues like steel and autos remain unresolved, Ebrard highlighted Mexico’s multiple proposals, which he kept confidential for strategic reasons.
Negotiation Progress and Upcoming Meetings
Ebrard reported that the negotiation is 90% complete, with 85 meetings held at various levels between the two governments. The upcoming week will see Mexico’s representation, led by the Secretary of Economy, have its final meeting with the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative (USTR) headed by Jamieson Greer, in the context of the APEC leaders’ meeting.
Commitment to Trilateral T-MEC
Ebrard emphasized that the ongoing consultations among the three countries, coordination between their governments, and all procedural and political signals indicate that the T-MEC will continue on a trilateral path. He addressed Mexican legislators, urging them to build a unified national position regarding the 2026 T-MEC review.
Digital Surveillance Denial
SAT’s Stance on Digital Surveillance
The Mexican tax administration agency, SAT, has denied allegations of digital surveillance, stating it will not access user information or monitor individuals through digital platforms. The SAT clarified that the fiscal legal framework, approved by the Chamber of Deputies, is not intended for digital surveillance or to be a “spy law” for monitoring users of digital service platforms.
The reform, according to the SAT, establishes in Article 30-B of the Federal Tax Code that digital platforms must grant Mexican fiscal authorities online, real-time access only to information necessary for verifying the proper fulfillment of fiscal obligations within their systems or records.
Criticism from Civil Society and Experts
Despite the SAT’s clarification, civil society organizations and experts like the Latin American Internet Association (ALAI), the Digital Rights Defense Network (R3D), Article 19, and the Mexican Internet Association (AMI) have criticized the reform as an “unprecedented surveillance scheme” that allows direct access to private databases without proportionality or safeguards.
New Director for Social Observatory at CEEY
Gonzalo Hernández Licona to Lead Social Observatory at CEEY
We have some news for you, dear reader. Gonzalo Hernández Licona, a renowned Mexican expert on poverty, will become the new director of the Social Observatory at the Centro de Estudios Espinosa Yglesias (CEEY) starting November 6. The Social Observatory is CEEY’s mechanism for investigating and disseminating information on social mobility and unequal opportunities in Mexico.
It’s worth noting that Gonzalo Hernández Licona was the founder and former executive secretary of Mexico’s National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (Coneval).
GE Vernova Acquires Prolec GE for $5.275 Billion
Significant Mexican Operation: GE Vernova’s Acquisition of Prolec GE
A major development for Mexico has been announced, with a value of $5.275 billion. Prolec GE, a leading electric transformer manufacturer formed through a 50/50 joint venture between Xignux and GE Vernova, revealed an agreement wherein GE Vernova will purchase Xignux’s stake in Prolec GE. The companies have been strategic partners for over three decades.
The acquisition is set to conclude mid-2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
