Who is Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón?
Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón is the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, a position he has held since 2018. A seasoned politician with extensive experience in both domestic and international affairs, Ebrard has been instrumental in shaping Mexico’s foreign policy and fostering international relationships.
Current Status of T-MEC Negotiations
During the inauguration of Expo Pyme 2025 at Cintermex, Ebrard announced that Mexico is halfway through preliminary negotiations for the T-MEC review, which will officially commence in January 2026. He highlighted that the current negotiations have successfully moved past contentious issues like fentanyl and migration.
Key Areas of Focus
- Respect for Peer Nations: Ebrard emphasized the importance of maintaining the agreed-upon norms within the T-MEC, particularly those related to steel and aluminum sectors (Section 232), which are in contradiction with previously approved norms.
- Security Concerns: Ebrard addressed the issue of illegal arms trafficking to Mexico, stating that the United States should take substantial measures to curb this problem at their customs checkpoints.
- Economic Relocation: Ebrard pointed out that the United States intends to relocate parts of its supply chain within North America, which presents an opportunity for Mexico to benefit from this shift due to its favorable conditions.
Impact on Mexican Industries
Ebrard discussed the potential benefits for Mexican industries, particularly in pharmaceuticals and raw materials. He mentioned that Mexico currently imports $1.6 billion worth of products from the U.S. market, which accounts for 21.7% of its total employment and contributes 11.1% to the censal gross value added.
The federal secretary also expressed Mexico’s intent to scale up production in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, electronics, and textiles. He mentioned ongoing discussions with the United States regarding these sectors.
Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Ebrard acknowledged the crucial role of SMEs in Mexico’s economy, noting that microenterprises (with up to 10 employees) constitute 89.3% of all establishments in Nuevo León, according to the 2024 Economic Census. These SMEs generate 11.1% of the censal gross value added and employ 21.7% of the workforce.
To support SMEs, Ebrard outlined two primary areas of focus: reducing the high cost of financing and providing assistance for market expansion. He also mentioned a recent collaboration with Walmart, Amazon, and Mercado Libre to increase the percentage of Mexican products they commercialize from 10% to 20%.
Key Questions and Answers
- What topics have been discussed in T-MEC negotiations? Key areas include maintaining the agreed-upon norms within T-MEC, addressing illegal arms trafficking to Mexico, and capitalizing on the potential economic relocation within North America.
- How will Mexico benefit from the T-MEC negotiations? Mexico aims to strengthen its position in sectors like pharmaceuticals and raw materials, while also benefiting from the United States’ decision to relocate parts of its supply chain within North America.
- What support does the Mexican government plan for SMEs? The government intends to reduce financing costs and provide assistance for market expansion, as well as collaborate with major retailers to increase the commercialization of Mexican products.
