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Mexico’s controversial Maya Train route is now complete
Mexico City to Boost Mobility, Security Ahead of FIFA World Cup
US Wins Dispute With Mexico Over Genetically Engineered Corn
Texas launches billboard campaign in Mexico to deter migrants
You’re either with Beijing or you’re with Washington’: Ford says to Mexico in CNN interview
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“Mexico has to make a decision: you’re either with Beijing or you’re with Washington. I’ll tell you what Canadians are with. They’re with Washington,” Ford said in an interview on CNN Tuesday night.
Ford has previously accused Mexico of becoming a “backdoor” for Chinese imports, including cars and other products, after the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (formerly NAFTA) was signed.
“Cheap Chinese products going through Mexico. They’re slapping the ‘made in Mexico’ sticker on, shipping it up through the US and Canada, and costing American and Canadian jobs,” he said.
The premier’s remarks come under the continuing threat of a 25 per cent tariff by Trump on all goods from Canada and Mexico until both countries secure their borders against the flow of illegal drugs and migrants.
On Tuesday, the federal government announced it’s five-point approach (opens in a new tab)to bolstering border security, including detecting and disrupting the fentanyl trade, new tools for law enforcement, enhancing operational coordination, increasing information sharing, and minimizing unnecessary border volumes.
Ottawa earmarked $1.3 billion for the six-year plan in Monday’s fall economic statement, though Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the plans had been in the works long before that and were not made in an attempt to meet Trump’s demands.
At a premiers meeting on Monday(opens in a new tab), Ford called on the federal government to do a better job including the province’s leaders in its trade negotiations with the U.S. and called on Ottawa to meet its two per cent NATO spending commitment, something Trump and lawmakers south of the border have long been pushing for.
Ford has also said he wants to negotiate a bilateral U.S.-Canada deal directly.
Cutting off Ontario energy to U.S. the ‘last thing’ Ford wants to do
Last week, Ford said he was prepared to cut off Ontario-made energy(opens in a new tab) to 1.5 million homes in the U.S. if Trump follows through with his tax.
While Ford has maintained that he is “not backing away whatsoever” from potential retaliatory tariffs, he told CNN Tuesday that cutting power to homes in New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin is the “last thing” he wants to do.
“Again, we are the closest trading partner, closest allies. We do $1.3 trillion in two-way trade. That’s more than Japan, China, UK and France combined. I just feel we aren’t the enemy. The big problem, in my opinion, is China.”
Ford has also threatened to restrict the LCBO from buying American-made alcohol, stop the export of critical minerals, and cut the U.S. out of the provincial procurement process if Trump makes good on his threat. He said he hopes he and all the premiers will travel to Washington in February following Trump’s inauguration in January.
Texas is launching a visceral billboard campaign in Mexico and Central America to deter illegal immigration by highlighting sexual assault and other dangers, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Thursday, the Republican’s latest move to stem crossings.
“How much did you pay to have your daughter raped,” one of the signs read. Another warned that migrants will be arrested if they enter Texas illegally.
“Our goal right now, immediately, is not only to discourage them from coming, but to help them understand the consequences,” Abbott said.
The number of migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border soared to record highs after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, fueling criticism by Abbott and other Republicans.President-elect Donald Trump recaptured the White House in November pledging mass deportations and aggressive border security efforts.
Biden toughened his border policies earlier this year, leading to a steep drop in migrants caught crossing illegally in recent months.
Abbott said the billboard campaign costs about $100,000 and aims to turn back migrants thinking of crossing illegally before Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
“There are many people who may make a last-gasp effort,” Abbott said.
Texas officials said in November that the state would offer 1,400 acres (567 hectares) of land near the border to the incoming Trump administration for its mass deportation initiative.
US Wins Dispute With Mexico Over Genetically Engineered Corn
(Bloomberg) — The US has prevailed in its dispute with Mexico over genetically modified corn that threatened shipments to America’s top customer of the grain.
An arbitration panel under the USMCA trade agreement issued its final ruling agreeing with the US that Mexico’s efforts to halt imports of GMO corn were not based on science and violated the trade pact, according to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai. A preliminary decision had come out last month, but Friday’s ruling makes it official.
“The panel’s ruling reaffirms the US’s longstanding concerns about Mexico’s biotechnology policies and their detrimental impact on US agricultural exports,” Tai said in a statement.
Mexico has been bringing in record amounts of US corn, largely for use as animal feed, after severe drought hit local harvests.
Mexico’s policy had officially banned the import of GMO corn for human consumption, but US growers were concerned that the policy could be expanded to include the corn destined for use as animal feed.
In a separate statement, the government stressed the ruling only applied to imports and gave its backing to bills in congress that would ban the planting of genetically engineered corn within the country. The measure looked to “protect the genetic diversity of Mexico’s native corn,” it said.
It has been a full year since the Yucatan Peninsula’s Maya Train, or Tren Maya, celebrated its inaugural departure for its first section connecting Cancun to Merida on Dec. 15, 2023. Former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador set this ambitious, multibillion-dollar project in motion in 2018.
On Sunday, Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, inaugurated the final section between Escarcega and Chetumal, completing this nearly 1,000-mile rail network that runs in a loop across five states and 34 stations in Mexico.
While the Maya Train offers a new way for tourists and locals to move around Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Chiapas, Campeche and Tabasco, it’s not without its controversies.
Here’s everything you need to know about this new train route in Mexico.
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Maya Train routes and key stations
The Maya Train operates three main routes:
- Cancun to Palenque
- Cancun to Chetumal International Airport (CTM)
- Chetumal International Airport to Escarcega
Andres Martinez, director of the Quintana Roo tourism board, highlights the significance of the Cancun International Airport (CUN) station, calling it the “elemental station” and the “heart” of the train system. From Cancun, travelers can head west to Yucatan’s capital city, Merida, or south to Palenque and its misty jungle archaeological ruins and on to Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo, covering the entire southern peninsula.
Currently, the most traveled route is the one in Quintana Roo along the Caribbean Sea, which links stations like Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum (which has two stops, including Tulum’s new airport and downtown Tulum), Bacalar and Chetumal.
Designed to be more than a transit system, the Maya Train’s stations are evolving into thematic attractions. “It’s not only going from point A to point B,” Martinez said. “The experience of visiting the station will be something else.”
The Tulum station, for instance, is connected to the newly inaugurated Jaguar Park, which opened in September. This protected natural reserve features bike paths and a small museum featuring local artifacts and regional art — and is connected to the Tulum Archaeological Site.
Classes of service and cost
The “Standard Trains” currently offer two classes of service: Tourist Class and Premier Class. Both provide a comfortable ride through the jungle and along the peninsula. Premier Class, however, features a more spacious seating arrangement with three seats per row instead of four and includes complimentary box lunches.
Dining and sleeper trains are still being developed for longer-haul routes, such as from Cancun to Palenque, an 11-hour journey.
Impact on tourism and local communities
Martinez underscores the dual benefits of the Maya Train, noting that it is “not only for tourists but also for locals.” The train provides connectivity for residents, particularly those commuting to work at the region’s resorts. “It’s been a major infrastructure facility,” he says.
The train offers tourists an alternative way to explore the peninsula without renting a car. It also links the region’s major airports, which is a perk for travelers who don’t want to book costly transportation shuttles or private drivers.
That said, just because it’s operational doesn’t mean things always go smoothly. Aside from the online booking snags, The New York Times reported in April that scheduling issues and unfinished stations have left travelers feeling confused.
Environmental and social concerns
Despite its promises, the Maya Train has been the subject of significant controversy. Environmentalists have raised concerns about the impact of construction on fragile ecosystems, particularly the jungle areas home to endangered species. Additionally, activists have voiced opposition over the potential disruption to local Mayan communities, some of whom feel their voices were not adequately included in the planning process.
In 2022, for example, conservation groups filed complaints with Semarnat, Mexico’s environmental ministry, pointing out the government’s inaccuracies in assessing the environmental impacts of some sections of the train.
“Mexican officials failed to comprehensively consider the Maya train’s environmental harms, but we know it’s a huge threat to jaguars and other wildlife,” Alejandro Olivera, Mexico representative at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. “The government’s analysis failed to meaningfully address risks ranging from bulldozing away vegetation to operating the train itself. Along this section’s 67 kilometers, there will be only two wildlife passages for jaguars and ocelots, and 15 kilometers of track won’t have any wildlife passages at all. If this goes forward, it’ll be a disaster for some of Mexico’s rarest animals.”
The Center for Biological Diversity has also said that the project violates local regulations regarding dredging, filling, excavating, expanding cenotes and removing vegetation.
Looking ahead
While the Maya Train has faced polarizing conversations, it has redefined travel in the Yucatan Peninsula. As the final touches are made to its stations, travelers have a whole new way to get closer to destinations across southern Mexico that were once more difficult to access.
Mexico City to Boost Mobility, Security Ahead of FIFA World Cup
(Bloomberg) — Mexico City is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with plans to increase investment in mobility and security next year, according to a top official.
The city’s proposed mobility budget, which includes initiatives to make it easier for fans to enter and exit the iconic Azteca stadium, will increase to nearly 7 billion pesos (around $348 million), representing 186% more than the 2024 allocation, said Juan Pablo de Botton, the capital’s finance minister, in an interview with Bloomberg News following the presentation of the budget proposal.
The capital, led by the ruling party’s Clara Brugada, is also proposing a record high budget for its subway system, planning for 23 billion pesos in investment. The public works budget will increase 12.5% to 13.5 billion pesos, and includes investments in the historic Tlalpan causeway to facilitate access to the games, de Botton said.
“The challenge is for people to be able to enter and leave on time and move around the city freely, feeling happy and safe,” de Botton said.
Mexico City will host the opening match for the FIFA World Cup that will be held alongside the US and Canada. The stadium is separately undergoing renovations to expand seating to 87,000.
The public works budget will also be spent on facilities known as “utopias,” while the mobility budget also includes three additional Cablebus lines and a separate bus line.
Social Spending
The budget’s top priority will be social spending, with an allocation of 17 billion pesos for subsidies and social programs, de Botton said.
A second priority is strengthening the local budget for municipalities, including the largest allocation in history of resources to that segment, he added, bringing it up 8.8% to 291.5 billion pesos.
“It’s a responsible, prudent and austere budget that combats inequalities,” the minister said.
Sustainable Debt
Congress approved Mexico City to offer 3.5 billion pesos in debt next year, which must now be approved by the local legislature, de Botton said, and which will be used primarily for the issuance of sustainable debt for mobility projects, like the construction of the new cable car lines.
De Botton said Mexico City is planning to carry out the issuance by mid-2025. “This will help us reduce polluting emissions from other types of transport,” he added.
The capital is also setting aside 15 billion pesos on water-related projects that aim to make water management more efficient by changing distribution networks, rehabilitating wells and eliminating leaks. Water has become an increasingly pressing issue for the city amid recurring dry seasons, with President Claudia Sheinbaum pledging to tackle the problem in her inauguration speech.
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