Sheinbaum: No Justification for Raising Price of Tortillas

ByAlonso Urrutia and Emir Olivares

This article by Alonso Urrutia and Emir Olivares originally appeared in the April 15, 2026 edition of La Jornada.

President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the warnings of an increase in the price of tortillas, because “they have no reason (…) corn kernels are at the lowest level in history.”

After learning that there are those who are promoting the increase, he instructed the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Julio Berdegué, to contact representatives of the sectors with which the National Corn-Tortilla Agreement was signed to prevent that action.

In a press conference, he also questioned the logic behind the price disparity of other products, such as tomatoes, which sell for 20 pesos per kilogram at the stores of the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE) and for 80 pesos at Walmart. “Something strange is going on, isn’t it? Because in any case, the price should be high everywhere. No product distributor can take advantage of an international situation to raise the price of a product.”

Sheinbaum announced that she will meet this Thursday with members of the Anti-Inflation and High Cost of Living Package (PACIC) to evaluate actions aimed at controlling price increases for basic goods. He emphasized that his government will implement all necessary measures to contain inflationary pressures in light of the current international situation.

On the other hand, when asked directly about the possibility of establishing a new wealth tax in Mexico, Sheinbaum said it’s something that needs to be analyzed, but for now, “we don’t have it as part of a broader tax reform.” She recalled that a measure that has proven “very effective” in increasing government revenue was the reform promoted by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to prohibit tax forgiveness.

She noted that this decision has allowed current revenues to total 6 trillion pesos, of which one trillion is allocated to finance social programs.

In this regard, she emphasized that Mexico has not only reduced poverty but also social inequality through three actions: prohibiting tax forgiveness, wage policies, and welfare programs. Together, these have served as the mechanism for wealth redistribution.