43 avsnitt • Längd: 35 min • Oregelbundet
The Mexico Matters podcast series highlights key developments in Mexico and their impact on the United States.
The podcast Mexico Matters is created by Center for Strategic and International Studies. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Kevin Brady, former U.S. Rep. (R-TX) and Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Kenneth Smith Ramos, former USMCA Chief negotiator for Mexico, about the shift in Washington away from free trade, President Trump’s use of tariffs as leverage to solve the fentanyl and border security crises, and the potential consequences of starting a trade war within North America by imposing 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. They also speak about the importance for Mexico to satisfy the US’s security demands and to comply with its own energy and other trade commitments in order to allow for a more successful 2026 review of USMCA. Finally, they discuss the importance for collaboration between the United States and Mexico to reduce the power of organized crime and address China’s growing presence in the region.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Dr. Hamre, President and CEO of CSIS and Seth Jones, President of the Defense and Security Department at CSIS. They discuss the role America has had historically in the world and why it might be entering a new epoch of parochialism. They also speak about the world that President Trump has inherited and how its competition with China is playing out in Latin America and elsewhere. They analyze the importance for America to protect and strengthen its borders, the advantages and disadvantages of sending troops to the southern border, and designating cartels as terrorist organizations. Finally, they speak about the importance of increasing security and economic cooperation with Mexico.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow in the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology in the Foreign Policy program at Brookings. She is the director of the Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors. She is also the co-director of the Brookings series on opioids: “The Opioid Crisis in America: Domestic and International Dimensions.
They discuss the unprecedented epidemic caused by the synthetic drug revolution and the role that Mexican cartels have played in driving this crisis, bankrolled by Chinese money laundering organizations. They also discuss what concrete actions the Mexican government should take to reduce the flow of narcotics and migrants across the border, and dive into how the Mexican cartels, aided by misguided policies, corruption, and weak judicial institutions, now control large swaths of Mexico’s territory. Finally, they speak about the importance of U.S. and Mexican cooperation to regain the Mexican territory from organized crime.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Alan Stoga, Chairman of the Tallberg Foundation and Host of the New Thinking for a New World podcast, about the importance of the U.S. elections, the state of U.S. politics and about the difference in trade, migration and economic policies of the two candidates. They also discuss the impact of the different policies could have in Mexico and the space Mexico’s new President, Claudia Sheinbaum, will have to navigate under each of the two candidates.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Carlos Peyrelongue, head of Mexico Equity Research for Bank of America, about the state of the country that President Claudia Sheinbaum has inherited from her predecessor, about the parting gift he left—a judicial reform that weakens certainty and the rule of law, and about how the markets will read certain markers to determine whether or not she will rule based on data or ideology. They also discuss the measures she will need to take in order to create the necessary conditions to attract investments to grow, to fund the country’s infrastructure needs, as well as the government’s growing spending commitments. And, about the most likely scenarios for U.S.-Mexico relations in light of the upcoming USMCA renegotiation.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Alejandra Palacios, former head of Mexico’s antitrust agency, COFECE, and Andrea Durkin, VP for international policy at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), about the controversial constitutional judicial reform passed by Mexico's Congress, which makes Mexico the only country in the world where the entire judicial branch, including the Supreme Court, stands for election.
They also discuss the government’s proposal to incorporate various regulatory agencies into the federal government, a move that could undermine their independence and increase presidential power, enabling the removal of competition and the selection of winners and losers. They emphasize the importance of how the new President, Claudia Sheinbaum, will write and implement the secondary laws and regulations, as these could—if done correctly—add the necessary certainty for investors and even allow Mexico to meet its international trade commitments.
On this episode, Mariana speaks with General David Petraeus, former CIA Director, Retired Army General, Partner of KKR and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, about the major and minor challenges occurring around the world that require the attention of the United States while, at the same time, the US needs to focus on strengthening its own competitive profile to compete against China. They also discuss how some of these global trends (nearshoring and frienshoring) have the potential to benefit Mexico if—and only if—Mexico works to create the necessary conditions to attract investment. This will include curbing the power of the criminal empires who control one-third of the territory and are damaging the attractiveness of Mexico and impacting the security of North America.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Kenneth Smith Ramos, former Chief Negotiator of USMCA from the Mexican side and partner of AGON, about how the Constitutional Reforms proposed by President Lopez Obrador might weaken Mexico’s judiciary and in doing so, impact the key principles of USMCA and other trade agreements such as impartiality, transparency, and nondiscriminatory practices. They also discuss measures North America could take to defend itself against predatory practices and the facts behind recent Chinese investments in Mexico. And, they speak about the upcoming 2026 mandatory review of USMCA and the negative implications of opening a full renegotiation.
In this crossover with It's More Than Grit: The Making of an Entrepreneur, a new podcast from CSIS, Linda Rottenberg, Co-founder and CEO of Endeavor, joins Mariana Campero and co-host Andrew Schwartz for a discussion on Linda’s journey to Endeavor. She highlights the qualities of a good entrepreneur and the regions she is most optimistic about. As a leader of the global entrepreneurship movement, Linda also shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Linda Rottenberg is one of the world’s premier voices on global entrepreneurship, technology, and business transformation. As Co-founder and CEO of Endeavor, Linda helms the leading global community of, by, and for entrepreneurs. Endeavor selects, supports, and invests in founders across 40 countries. Linda also serves as President of Endeavor Catalyst, the rules-based investment arm of Endeavor, with $500M in AUM.
Subscribe to It's More Than Grit: The Making of an Entrepreneur
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Carlos Elizondo Mayer-Serra, a political science expert from Monterrey Tec, about Claudia Sheinbaum’s landslide victory in the Mexican elections and explains why the financial markets negatively reacted to such a victory. They also discuss the Constitutional changes that President Lopez Obrador and his Morena party might try to pass now that they have the necessary votes, and the potential impact of those reforms on Claudia’s presidency. They stress the various dilemmas Claudia will face while squaring the circle of achieving greater economic growth vs. greater power concentration.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Juan Carlos Baker, former USMCA negotiator on the Mexican side and CEO of Ansley International Consultants, about the facts behind the recent Chinese investment announcements in Mexico, about what prompted Mexico to increase tariffs on more than 500 Chinese goods, and what Mexico, the U.S. and Canada should be doing now to prepare for the upcoming 2026 review of USMCA.
In this episode, Mariana is joined by Luis de la Calle, an international economist, former NAFTA negotiator and CEO of CMM; and Martin Castellanos, head of Latam research at the IIF. They discuss the potential economic and policy implications of the June 2nd presidential elections and describe the optimism vis-a-vis Mexico among the investor community.
They dive into the economic realities that exist today to determine whether that optimism is justified or not. They also discuss future risks and analyze the various policy consequences of the upcoming elections. They describe two potential scenarios: a victory by Claudia Sheinbaum with and without the necessary majority in Congress to change the Constitution. They also discuss the tailwinds that the nearshoring wave could bring for Mexico, and the country's shortcomings that limit it from taking full advantage of the opportunity. And finally, the implications for Mexico if it allowed China to use it as a back door to the United States.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Tamanna and Travis Bembenek, owners of the Mexico News Daily about the other side of the migration coin: the millions of Americans (and other nationalities) migrating to Mexico to live, work, or start a business and the impact they are having in the local communities.
They discuss the challenges and opportunities of starting a new business in Mexico, the importance for the Mexican government to expedite work visas to allow for the technology ecosystem to grow, and the challenges/opportunities they see as business owners. They also talk about how journalism is a dangerous business in Mexico and how they avoid falling into dangerous territory.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Andrew Selee, President of the Migration Policy Institute and Carlos Heredia Associate Professor at CIDE about the facts and the politics in both the U.S. and Mexico behind the surge in immigration flows. They dive deep into the facts to understand what is attracting so many people—not only from Mexico or Central America but also from China, India, Africa, and the Middle East—to risk their lives (and a lot of money) to cross the border illegally. They also speak about the impact that immigration is having on the Mexican side of the border, they discuss what the current bipartisan Senate immigration bill would achieve, if it ever became law, and how to improve the current asylum system which is being abused. They analyze what the United States could do to improve border security, how governments are using migrants for political gain, and how President Lopez Obrador from Mexico is gaming the system.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with David Velez, co-founder and CEO of Nubank about how Nubank evolved from an initiative to kill fat fees and poor service in Brazil into the largest digital bank in the world. They also discuss how Fintech is shaking the financial sector in Latin America not only by boosting competition but also by bringing new technologies and services to millions that had previously been ignored. They dive into the pros and cons of Mexico’s Fintech ecosystem and what it will take for Mexico to jump into the global bandwagon of a digital payments system. They also speak about Nu’s regional strategy, their debut on Wall Street, the opportunity in Latin America, and the necessary qualities for an entrepreneur to succeed in the region.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Martín Escobari, Head of Global Growth Equity, Co-President, Managing Director, Head of Latin America and Chairman of General Atlantic's Investment Committee, and Luis Cervantes, Managing Director and Head of GA's Mexico City Office. They discuss the factors that have contributed to the emergence of an important entrepreneurial ecosystem in Latin America and define what barriers are still hindering its future potential. They compare the Latin American environment with that of other emerging markets and explain how entrepreneurs are adapting to a world of higher interest rates. They also converse about the industries that are being transformed such as fintech, e-commerce, healthcare, and security, among others; and how the start ups are increasing competition and improving the lives of millions. Finally, they explain the transformational nature of AI and how all companies are experimenting with it.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Tania Ortiz Mena, President of Sempra Infrastructure, about Mexico’s large and diversified base of energy sources—ranging from oil, gas, solar, wind, and hydro—and what would it take for Mexico not only to satisfy growing demand but also to take full advantage of its potential. They also speak about the current state of Mexico’s electricity and gas infrastructure, about the important bottlenecks that exists today, and about the need for the government to focus its investments in transmission lines. They also emphasize the billions of dollars in investments that could materialize if the government were to work closely with the private sector to achieve energy transition.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, and Evan Greenberg, Chairman and CEO of Chubb. They delve into the ways North America stands to benefit from current global tensions. They also discuss the notions of globalization and regionalization, and what Mexico needs to do enhance its global competitiveness, attract greater investments, and achieve its full potential. Larry and Evan also share their optimism for the region and discuss how the negative headlines we see about Mexico do not tell the full story about what is happening in the country.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Dr. Luis Rubio, former Chairman of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations and Chair of Mexico Evalua, about his most recent book titled On Your Marks.
They discuss why the upcoming Presidential election will define the trajectory of Mexico in the near future, and whether Mexico will be able to create the necessary conditions to leverage the nearshoring wave. They also discuss various scenarios that could unfold between now and the June 2024 elections, as well as the economic and political conditions under which the next President will have to govern. Additionally, they explore the likelihood of a crisis and how the rhetoric of the U.S. Presidential election might impact the outcome of the Mexican election.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Ken Smith, the former head negotiator from the Mexico side of the USMCA agreement and with Scott Miller co-host of The Trade Guys, a CSIS podcast specializing in trade policies.
They talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of USMCA as it approaches its third year anniversary, and how it differs from the former NAFTA. They also discuss the importance of USMCA’s dispute settlement mechanism and why the U.S.government hasn’t called Mexico to a panel regarding bio corn and the country’s nationalistic energy policies. They also speak about the potential damage caused by the U.S. for not abiding by the rulings of the panel over its interpretation of the rules of origin in the auto sector, and about what needs to be done to strengthen the rules that underpin trade and investment in North America.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and former U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and Julio Rank Wright, Regional VP for Latin America at IRC. They discuss why the images of chaos and desperation seen at the US-Mexico border are just the tip of an international trend as millions of people—from around the world—are on the move due to civil wars, climate disasters, or some type persecution. They explain the difference between a refugee, an asylum seeker, and an economic migrant and clarify the necessary criteria to grant asylum or not. They also speak about the new asylum policies of the Biden Administration and what is needed to avoid people from falling into the hands of smugglers and traffickers.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Vanda Felbab-Brown, a Brookings scholar of crime, conflict, and non-traditional security threats, and Guillermo Valdes, former head of Mexico’s Center for Investigation and National Security, CISEN. They discuss the evolution of Mexico’s cartels, the failure of the Mexican government to curtail their growth, and how they have diversified into other illegal and legal businesses. They also speak about how the lack of cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico—and the U.S. and China—is making it impossible to dismantle the Fentanyl supply chains and how Chinese and Mexican drug and wildlife trafficking activities are colliding, threatening various species and Mexico’s biodiversity.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Alejandra Palacios, former head of Mexico’s Economic Competition Commission, COFECE, and Luis Gutierrez, President for Latin America of Prologis, the world’s largest industrial real estate investment trust and the biggest owner of industrial parks in Mexico. They discuss why Mexico’s manufacturing sector is receiving record numbers of FDI, in what specific sectors could Mexico increase its share in U.S. manufacturing imports, and what is needed for industrial park supply to catch up with increased demand. They also speak about the main constraints that exist to allow Mexico to take full advantage of this moment and how despite the current unfriendly political environment, C-Suites from around the world are focusing on long term geopolitical trends and moving ahead with their plans to shift a piece of their manufacturing capacity down to Mexico.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Kellie Meiman, Managing Partner at McLarty Associates and former USTR for South America, and Juan Carlos Baker, Mexico’s USMCA negotiator and former Under Secretary of the Economy. They discuss the importance for the three North American countries to abide by USMCA rules and commitments to create the needed certainty to unfreeze nearshoring investments and succeed in creating a more competitive region. They also speak about the competitive advantages Mexico brings (or could bring) to the table, “Buy America” and the U.S.’s recent industrial policies, and how energy is the missing link that could unlock the region’s full potential.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Alonso Cervera, Managing Director in the Emerging Markets Economics Research team of Credit Suisse about Mexico’s record flows of foreign direct investments (FDI) in 2022, Mexico’s strengths and weaknesses to take a share of China’s exports to the U.S., and about how—despite current economic policies — Mexico will be able to catch the nearshoring wave. They also speak about the possible risks that could slow this trajectory and the economic outlook for 2023.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with former congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lethinen (R-FL-27) about the unmaterialized red wave during the 2022 midterm elections. They also discuss the importance of the Latino electorate, Governor DeSantis’s role in making Florida an outlier, and how a Republican-controlled House could modify policies affecting Mexico and trade enforcement.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Dr. Luis Rubio, Chairman of the think tank Mexico Evalua, about the transcendental changes that have occurred in Mexico under the Presidency of Lopez Obrador, why the immense power concentrated in the Mexican presidency constitutes a crucial challenge for development, and AMLO’s desire to control a good chunk of the economy and to protect his signature legislation on electricity—even if this translates into a mismatch between the United States-Canada against Mexico. They also speak about AMLO’s views of the United States and the macroeconomic conditions that could push AMLO to make bold decisions prior to the upcoming 2024 elections.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Secretary Ildefonso Guajardo, former lead negotiator for Mexico of the new USMCA free trade agreement and a current member of Mexico’s lower house of Congress for the PRI party. They discuss the trade dispute with Mexico over the country’s energy policies which restrict market access and favor two state own enterprises. CFE, the state run utility and Pemex, the oil company. To also focus on how these policies have not only undermined private companies that have poured billions into the sector, but how they have also damaged North America’s energy security and its ability to produce competitive, abundant and clean electricity.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Lisa Sanchez, the CEO of Mexico United Against Crime, a nongovernmental organization in Mexico. They discuss the failures in Mexico’s public security strategy and why women, just for being women, are particularly targeted. They also explain that the demands of the women’s movement in Mexico are not about equal rights as in other countries but rather about the basic human rights to live and be protected by the state.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Ricardo Pascoe, the former Mexican ambassador to Cuba. They discuss the political and economic conditions that exist in the island and why—despite the recent crackdowns on dissent and the economic collapse of the Cuban communist model—President López Obrador has decided to side with President Díaz Canel over President Biden to build a closer relationship.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with former congressman Filemon Vela Jr. from Texas about how the immigration debate has overshadowed the complete U.S.-Mexico relationship, despite its vastness and importance for the livelihoods of millions on both sides of the border. They also discuss how internal politics have proved a formidable barrier to smart immigration reform, which impacts the United States’ need for laborers and the competitiveness of North America.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Luis Cervantes, managing director and head of General Atlantic's Mexico City office; Adolfo Babats, CEO of CLIP, one of the first unicorns to emerge from Mexico; and Ricardo Amper, CEO of Incode. They discuss the opportunity that private equity and other investors have identified in Mexico and Latin America and how entrepreneurs are using technology to create thriving businesses that are turning some of the big problems and market deficiencies in the region into enormous opportunities for growth.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Mexico's former Foreign Minister, Jorge Castañeda, about Mexico's unwillingness to impose any economic sanctions on Russia for the war against Ukraine. Castañeda also explains why anti-Americanism in the region has allowed President Putin to find certain support from Mexico, Brazil, and other Latin American countries.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Luis Rubio, Luis de la Calle, Lourdes Melgar, Jorge Tello Peón, and Julian Ventura; five renowned Mexican experts who provide a report card of President Lopez Obrador´s first three years in office from a political, economic, energy, security, and diplomatic perspective. They also share their analysis as to what we can expect for the second half of this Administration: it will require a clean-up!
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute. They discuss the record number and diversity of migrants, the importance for the U.S. to be able to control its border, and the need to build a 21st-century immigration system that is both humane and attracts the required high, mid, and lower skill talents to grow and increase competitiveness.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with former United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer about USMCA and the principles and goals that guided its creation versus the old NAFTA. They also discuss the benefits and limits of the North American market, the issues behind supply chain disruptions, the importance of protecting jobs and livelihoods, and why Mexico matters to the United States.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with General David Petraeus, partner of KKR, Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, and former CIA Director, about Mexico's potential to enhance the United States' competitiveness as it relocates supply chains closer to home, and competes against China. They analyze some of the recent actions taken by the Mexican government that have made investors worry and government officials question the reliability of Mexico as a partner in this grand strategy.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Ambassador Antonio Garza, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, and Gabriel Lozano, chief economist of J.P. Morgan Mexico, about Mexico’s midterm elections which were held on June 6th. They analyze the new equilibrium of power, the priorities of President Lopez Obrador, and how these affect the short and medium-term outlooks for Mexico.
In this episode, host Mariana Campero speaks with Ambassador Andres Rozental, former deputy foreign minister of Mexico, and Ryan Berg, senior fellow in the CSIS Americas Program. They discuss the perfect storm propelling the recent migration wave to the U.S.-Mexican border and emphasize how the current policies of the Lopez-Obrador administration are damaging U.S. investments and other interests, producing a negative effect on migration.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Dr. Lourdes Melgar, non-resident fellow at the Baker Institute and Mexico’s former Deputy Secretary of Energy, and Ben Cahill, Senior Fellow in the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at CSIS. They discuss the impact that Mexico’s energy counter-reforms will have on U.S. interests, North American competitiveness, and the transition to cleaner use of energy.
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with security and intelligence experts Jorge Tello Peon and Juan Cruz about the efficacy of Mexico’s new security strategy, which saw more than 34,000 homicides last year—the highest in the country’s history despite the pandemic lockdowns. They also discussed recent actions that have undermined trust and cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico. Are our two countries more than neighbors—are we roommates?
In this episode, Mariana Campero speaks with Ken Smith, Mexico’s Chief USMCA negotiator and with the CSIS Trade Guys, Scott Miller and Bill Reinsch, about the new USMCA— which was signed two years ago by President Lopez Obrador. They dive deep into how some of his policies run counter to the spirit of free competition and risk hindering US investments and other key interests. They also discuss the focus on compliance by the new Biden Administration and how protectionist measures on both sides can affect the overall competitiveness of North America.
In this first episode, Mariana is joined by Kim Breier, former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere, and Luis de la Calle, a Mexican economist and the former Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy who headed the NAFTA negotiations. They discuss how the economic and political priorities of the Mexican government can not only undermine confidence among investors but also hinder U.S. national interests.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.