International

Concern of migrants and businessmen on the Mexico-U.S. border after Biden’s resignation

Joe Biden’s resignation from the presidential candidacy by the Democratic Party in the United States was considered this Sunday as “worrying” by businessmen and pro-migrant activists, since they pointed out that this decision opens the door more and the possibility for Donald Trump, a Republican candidate, to win the position and change immigration policies.

In the case of immigration policies, José María García Lara, coordinator of the Migrant Alliance of Tijuana, told EFE that this “can greatly affect the migrant population,” mainly those who are in the border area, due to the changes that can come in programs and reforms that Biden currently maintains.

“They are programs that are somehow working, not as we would all like, but that have maintained an opening like the CBP-One application for an entry into the United States on a regular basis,” he said.

García Lara stressed that “if Trump wins, very strong changes will come for the migrant population looking for better life opportunities.”

“It is something that we have already seen in his administration (2017-2021) in which, although, he did not manage to impose certain things, we realized that there were significant changes and if he reached the presidency he will now bid harder to achieve other plans that go to the detriment of migrants,” he said.

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Biden left the race for re-election this Sunday, although he said that he will end his term and asked for the vote for the vice president, Kamala Harris.

Harris confirmed that he wants to be his replacement, but the Democratic Party must first open a process for the selection of its new presidential candidate.

For their part, the businessmen of the Mexico-United States border pointed out that Biden’s decline will bring “more economic uncertainty for the border strip and for Mexico’s economy,” since for the moment it gives advantages to Trump.

“For Mexico it is dangerous for the United States to be in the hands of Trump again, since it was he who changed the North American Free Trade Agreement for the Mexico, United States and Canada Treaty (T-MEC),” Thor Salayandía, coordinator of the Border Business Block in Ciudad Juárez, said in an interview with EFE.

In addition, he recalled Trump’s statements this week in which he warns that he will not allow China to set up car assembly plants in Mexico, at a time when there is a wave of Asian companies landing in Mexico as part of the phenomenon called “nearshoring” or relocation of companies.

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“These radical policies of Trump are costing us that the ‘nearshoring’ now stops, because there is no certainty, especially for companies in China that want to invest in Mexico and that are seeing that Trump could put a stop or obstacles such as tariffs,” the businessman said.

A report from the Border Business Block indicated that between June 2023 and April 2024, the cities on the border of Mexico lost about 100,000 jobs in the maquiladora industry, of which 55,000 were eliminated in Ciudad Juárez.

Finally, the Juarense businessman considered it positive for the Democratic Party that he can decide a new candidate who “can fight” Trump, who is leading the way in the polls ahead of the November presidential elections.

International

UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions

The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.

According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.

Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.

The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.

“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.

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While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.

To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.

Central America

El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program

The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.

Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.

The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.

According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.

In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.

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International

Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela

Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.

In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.

“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.

For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.

“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.