To Tariff or Not to Tariff? Soberanía 89
In this year-end episode of Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast, co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth close out the year with an in-depth analysis of Mexico’s newly announced tariff package, examining the policy debate behind it and the pros and cons of this strategy.
The conversation then turns to the U.S. move to frame fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction,” exploring what that designation could mean for bilateral relations and why Mexico has reason to be wary given how similar declarations have been used in the past.
In the third segment, the hosts look ahead to 2026. What’s in store for Sheinbaum’s government? The episode wraps up with the return of Losers and Haters, where this week’s target is—once again—the New York Times.
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A Dangerous Year: Mexico Avoids Tariffs, but Trump Opens More & More Fronts
The vast majority of exports from Mexico are from US corporations, while aluminum, steel, and tomatoes, which have Mexican national ownership, face significant tariffs.
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Tariffs & Industrial Sabotage
The government’s stated reasoning for anti-China tariffs rings hollow when considering the flood of cheap US imports destroying the Mexican countryside and production dominated by US corporations exploiting Mexican labour.
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China Calls on Mexico to Reconsider Tariffs on its Products
Under Article 32.10 of the USMCA, Mexico can only pursue a free trade agreement with a non-market economy like the People’s Republic of China if the US government approves.
