February 21st, 2025
1. U.S. designates Mexican criminal organizations as terrorists
Six Mexican drug cartels (the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation, the United Cartels, the Northwest Cartel, the Gulf Cartel and the New Michoacan Family), as well as two South American gangs, have been listed as international terrorist organizations by the U.S. State Department, as promised in the campaign of now President Donald Trump.
The decision has raised suspicions because it is the first time criminal organizations without a political or ideological purpose have been classified in this way. It also leaves the door open for military actions in Mexican territory, which could mean a violation of Mexico’s sovereignty. In this regard, President Sheinbaum announced that she will send a constitutional reform to Congress to establish that violations of national territory will not be allowed.
El Financiero: ‘Es oficial’: Trump designa a 6 cárteles mexicanos como organizaciones terroristas; entra en vigor HOY
2. Government announces investments in Mexico
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that, after her meeting with the president of Banco Santander, Ana Botín, the banking institution will invest more than $2 billion in Mexico, which she described as a positive sign, as it reflects the confidence of investors in the country.
In the same vein, the President informed that the Netflix platform announced an investment of $1 billion (mdd) to produce series and movies in Mexico during 2025-2028. The company’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, highlighted that with this investment it is estimated to produce around 20 audiovisual productions per year, which will contribute to the growth of the industry, as well as to the creation of jobs and opportunities in the country.
Aristegui Noticias: Netflix se sumará a las inversiones en México: Sheinbaum
3. Re-launch of the “Made in Mexico” label
The Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, kicked off the national and international promotion of the “Made in Mexico” label and installed the Honorary Promotion Council, at the same time that the rules for the use of said label were published. The objective of this initiative is to mark products made in the country so that consumers can easily identify and consume them in order to boost the domestic market and strengthen the national economy.
This is part of the measures in response to the United States’ threats to impose generalized tariffs of 25% on products from Mexico and to President Trump’s repeated declarations of taxes on cars, chips and pharmaceuticals, as he has already done on steel and aluminum, although none of his measures have yet taken effect.
Proceso: Hecho en México: la Secretaría de Economía relanza el emblema tras disputa arancelaria con EU
4. Bank of Mexico cuts forecast for the Mexican economy
The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) cut to 0.6%, from 1.2%, its economic growth projection for the country in 2025, after the performance of the economy during the last quarter of last year. The agency foresees that the Mexican economy will continue to weaken in the coming months, mainly in the first half of the year, because private consumption and, especially, private investment, will show a low dynamism as a reflection of the high uncertainty environment that persists. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), the national economy declined 0.6% in the last quarter of 2024.
El Economista: Banxico recorta a 0.6% su pronóstico de crecimiento para el PIB de México en 2025
5. Morena party affiliation process divides its militants
The Morena party has given itself the task of increasing its membership, with which they have made affiliations to numerous people, among them some characters that have not been entirely well received by the party’s militancy. The former governor of the State of Oaxaca and Senator of the Republic, Alejandro Murat, has decided to join the party; however, the current governor of the State, as well as the senators of said entity, have appealed for his affiliation to be denied, given his questionable administration at the head of the governorship.
In addition, Senator Miguel Ángel Yúnes Márque’s affiliation has provoked the discontent of the leadership of the entity he represents, Veracruz, including that of the governor, who also sent a letter to the party to avoid the Senator’s affiliation due to his family’s questionable actions. The Morena party will now have to decide whether to privilege the permanence of the Senators in the party over the dissatisfaction of its militancy.
Proceso: Legisladores morenistas se lanzan contra afiliación de Miguel Ángel Yunes y Alejandro Murat