Mexico and businessmen align strategy for review of the T-MEC

Culiacán: four homicides on the first day of July

The capital of Sinaloa started the seventh month of the year with four homicides in different parts of the city. In all cases, the victims were attacked with a firearm.

The first incident occurred in a taqueria in the Barrancos sector, to the southeast. Jorge “N”, 44, was having dinner at the restaurant when he was shot and died at the scene. A waiter was injured by shrapnel in the leg and was treated by Red Cross paramedics.

Shortly after, in an apartment in the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood, Jesús “N”, 23 years old, was also killed by multiple gunshots. The attackers fled and have not been located.

In front of a secondary school in the Villa Bonita subdivision, authorities found the body of a young man wrapped in plastic and with bullet holes. His identity is still unknown.

The fourth case was recorded on the side of the Culiacán-Eldorado highway, in the Costa Rican administration. Relatives identified the victim as Raúl Francisco “N”, 18 years old, a resident of the area.

The events have generated concern among residents, who demand greater security and concrete actions from the authorities to stop violence in the region.

Concerns at the trilateral table

Marcelo Ebrard, head of the Ministry of Economy, stated that Mexico must respond to the concerns of the United States and Canada regarding the USMCA. The country still depends on others in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and artificial intelligence.

“The Treaty has probably been the most successful in the world, but they have legitimate concerns. If we want it to remain in force and expand, we must address them and look for spaces for cooperation,” he declared during the morning conference on July 2.

Dialogue to maintain certainty

Ebrard recalled that the three countries agreed to maintain the USMCA until 2036. He explained that the dialogue has been built with arguments, information and patience, as President Claudia Sheinbaum has instructed. “One of our main objectives was for the United States not to withdraw from the Treaty,” he said.

The secretary mentioned that Donald Trump has proposed modifying or canceling the agreement, so annual reviews will be key. “My task is for these revisions to be successful and not affect the content of the Treaty,” he said.

Ebrard highlighted the importance of the trilateral relationship: “Mexico is the United States’ main client. They have a strategic interest in our doing well. Reporting our progress on their concerns limits the scenario for the review.”

President Sheinbaum highlighted that the peso remained stable after the virtual meeting, trading at 17.54 per dollar. “There was no nervousness about the Mexican economy,” he said.

Olinia moves towards production with mixed investment

President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that the Olinia electric vehicle, promoted by the federal government, arouses great interest among state governments and citizens. After passing the design phase, the project now enters the manufacturing stage.

Sheinbaum explained that the objective is a public-private alliance: not only the Mexican State, but also automotive companies with experience in distribution and manufacturing. “The objective is for there to be a mixed investment,” he stated.

“We have already passed the design phase and now we are in the production phase. The objective is that there is a mixed investment, that not only is a vehicle produced by the Mexican State, but that there is also investment from some other companies that already have the facility, for example, of having distribution agencies in different places and that already manufacture some vehicles.”

The president announced that a type of contest will be launched to select the right partner. In addition, necessary regulatory adjustments will be made for both Olinia and other mini electric vehicles. “And yes, there is a lot of demand. Not only from governments, but also from people who liked the vehicle,” he indicated.

The Olinia project seeks to offer a sustainable and accessible mobility option. The combination of public and private investment aims to accelerate its production and distribution in the country.