International
Uncertainty about Trump’s tariffs is sharpening in the heart of the Mexican maquila
Uncertainty is exacerbated on the northern border of Mexico as one week has been completed by the tariffs of the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, which unsettles, in particular, Ciudad Juárez, the epicenter of the Mexican maquila.
Data from the Association of Maquiladoras and Exporters of Ciudad Juárez (AMAC) show that about 70% of local exports go to the US market, which makes the city, bordering the US El Paso, Texas, especially vulnerable to trade restrictions.
In addition, Juárez hosts more than 300 maquiladoras, which employ about 300,000 people to produce everything from medical devices to auto parts.
Therefore, “the border would be the most affected” with the 25% tariffs that Trump announced last week, “with the loss of jobs, probably with factory closures, probably with high inflationary costs,” said Martha Bárcena, former ambassador of Mexico to the United States (2018-2021).
“So the main stakeholders are the entire border strip in which there is not this trade war, but on the contrary that there is cooperation, as the president (Claudia Sheinbaum) has said. Without a doubt, it is a difficult scenario that has been seen today,” he said in an interview.
Threat of tariffs: risks on both sides of the Mexico-US border.
Trump shook the region’s economy by announcing on Monday of last week that one of his first executive orders will be to impose tariffs of 25% on “all products” of Mexico and Canada, until the “invasion” of illegal migrants and drugs, in particular fentanyl, is “stopped.
The president of Mexico trusted last Friday that there will be no tariffs after talking on the phone with Trump, while the Mexican government argues that the United States would lose 400,000 jobs and suffer from inflation, such as an additional 3,000 dollars per van, for example.
Economist Alejandro Sandoval Murillo, president of the Mexican Institute of Finance Executives (IMEF) in Juárez, told EFE that “tariffs are a tax that is placed to import, affecting the price of the product and making it less competitive in the face of existing alternatives.”
“The question of imposing tariffs on Mexico is whether (in the United States) they have alternatives to Mexican production, which is obviously not China, because China is the main problem. In that sense, if there is not, the American consumer will have to absorb that tariff and the damage is for them,” he warned.
Impact on small entrepreneurs and consumers
Although the most immediate impact is felt in large industries, small entrepreneurs also face challenges.
“Chihuahua is fundamental in those border states because, besides, Texas is our first trading partner. With them we trade more than 216 billion dollars a year. So I think we should seek that renewed dialogue between the governor of Texas (Greg Abbott) and the governor of Chihuahua (María Eugenia Campos),” Bárcena said.
For workers, uncertainty is also palpable in the face of possible low wages and challenging working conditions.
“The fact that consumers stop spending so much will cause company closures. That is the type of consequences that can begin to occur if, and only if, things evolve negatively, tariffs, reactions, reprisals, etc., towards a negative direction,” Sandoval Murillo warned.
In the face of the adverse scenario, local and federal authorities have tried to mitigate the effects of tariffs through tax incentives and support programs for affected companies.
But many entrepreneurs consider these measures to be insufficient in the face of the impact of US trade policies.
“Because neither government can afford that luxury (of tariffs) and emphatically the Mexican government cannot under any reason. But the Mexican government I don’t mean (only) the federal one. This is a joint work between the subnational, state and municipal, along with the federal,” the economist concluded.
International
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on Saturday near a police station in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, close to the Venezuelan border, leaving 14 people injured in an attack that occurred six days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.
The blast took place in the early hours of the morning and was allegedly carried out by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), who detonated a vehicle packed with explosives. According to the latest report from the Colombian Army, the attack injured 11 police officers and three civilians.
The explosion involved around 15 explosive devices, and two of the wounded officers are in critical condition and “fighting for their lives,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, the region where the attack occurred.
The incident comes amid Colombia’s worst wave of violence in the past decade, with armed groups expanding their presence in several areas of the country.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cúcuta against our National Police. Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” De la Espriella said in a post on X.
The conservative lawyer, who has been described as a far-right figure, will take office on August 7, replacing Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The inauguration ceremony will be held in Cali, the country’s third-largest city and a frequent target of attacks by armed groups.
The United Nations condemned what it described as an “indiscriminate attack” that caused not only injuries but also “fear and distress among the population.”
De la Espriella has repeatedly warned about an alleged plot against his life. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, who is currently visiting Cuba, has not commented on the attack. During his visit, Petro met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss what Havana describes as the United States’ “policy of suffocation” toward the island.
International
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
The arrival of around 60,000 migrants from Morocco to Spain’s Ceuta enclave triggered a major European Union crisis on Friday, after Madrid described the situation as an “attack” on its territorial integrity.
At least 34 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish territory, according to local authorities.
Hundreds of migrants had begun arriving in Ceuta earlier in the week, either by swimming across the border or climbing security fences. Most of those who entered were young men and teenagers.
However, the situation escalated dramatically early Thursday morning, when the number of arrivals surged within a few hours, reaching nearly 60,000 people. According to the Spanish government, the vast majority of them — around 48,000 migrants — had returned to Morocco by Friday evening.
The episode represents one of the most serious migration crises faced by the autonomous city of Ceuta, which has a population of around 84,000 residents, in recent years.
Several European countries responded strongly to the crisis, with Italy announcing the temporary suspension of the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain, a measure supported by Finland and Denmark.
“The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe’s borders,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a post on X.
Italy’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the country had tightened controls on maritime and air entry points from Spain, but clarified that the measure would not affect Spanish or European citizens traveling to Italy.
The additional checks will specifically target non-European citizens arriving from Spain, according to the ministry.
The measure will remain in effect for one month starting Saturday, authorities said.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded to the Italian announcement through a statement on X, as European governments continued discussions over the consequences of the migration crisis.
International
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday announced legislation to establish a federal anti-corruption office aimed at strengthening oversight of the executive branch and preventing future presidents from using the White House for personal financial gain.
Schumer said the proposal was prompted by what he described as President Donald Trump’s misuse of the presidencyto benefit his family’s business interests.
“In just 18 months, the Trump family has made more than $4 billion by exploiting the influence of the presidency,” Schumer alleged.
The New York senator also argued that the alleged corruption has had direct economic consequences for American households.
“The same corrupt practices Trump is using to pocket billions of dollars are also forcing Americans to pay, on average, $3,100 more each year because of the rising cost of living,” he said.
The legislation was introduced alongside Democratic Senators Alex Padilla, Jeff Merkley, and Andy Kim.
According to Schumer, the bill has two primary objectives: “First, to return money to the American people. Second, to ensure that no one can ever steal from them again.”
He added that the proposal would create legal mechanisms allowing citizens to seek the recovery of funds allegedly obtained through government corruption.
“The fact that Trump stole money from the American people does not make it his. Americans deserve to get that money back,” Schumer said.
Under the proposed legislation, any U.S. citizen—as well as state attorneys general acting on behalf of their residents—would be authorized to file civil lawsuits to recover funds allegedly acquired through corrupt practices by public officials.
“Our bill would empower any individual, including a state attorney general acting on behalf of the people of that state, to bring legal action to recover money stolen from the public through government corruption,” Schumer said.
The measure is expected to face debate in Congress, where Republicans and Democrats remain deeply divided over executive accountability and the scope of presidential powers.
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International2 days agoEU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
-
International4 days agoFive Bodies Found in Ecuador as Police Probe Suspected Gang Turf War
-
International4 days agoChuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
-
International4 days agoGeorgia Teen Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Deadly School Shooting
-
Central America4 days agoProsecutors Accuse Ex-Defense Minister of Undermining Press Freedom in Honduras
-
International4 days agoFAO and WFP Seek $42 Million to Prepare Southern Africa for Unprecedented El Niño
-
International4 days agoTrump Administration Urges Latin America to Increase Defense Spending Against Organized Crime
-
International19 hours agoTruck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration