China–Mexico Daily Brief | Oct 20: US–Mexico trade deal “very close” but not final

Sheinbaum: US deal “very close” but not final; Ebrard: USMCA stays in force 10 years with annual reviews

President Claudia Sheinbaum said on 20 October that the deal with the US is “very close” but some issues remain and there is no final agreement; Mexico wants to cut US tariffs on vehicles, steel and aluminum as far as possible and avoid new ones. She said the US made proposals to reduce one tariff in exchange for concessions she did not detail, and that nothing outside the constitution and the laws will be negotiated. After meeting senators, Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said the USMCA will stay in force for 10 years with annual reviews, the broadest probably this year, and that he wants it closed before year-end; he also mentioned that his next trip will be to China, this year's APEC host.

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Economy Ministry will keep tariffs on Chinese cars; consultant warns Chinese plant investment could go elsewhere

At the AMDA auto forum on 20 October, Carlos Castillo, head of the Economy Ministry's Productive Development Unit, said in a virtual message that tariffs on cars from China and from countries without a trade deal with Mexico will remain a pillar of strengthening the auto sector. Guido Vildozo of Mobility Global said the promised Chinese auto investment in Mexico, estimated at US$45 billion over 10 years, is being reassessed; even without plants, he projected Chinese brands at 30% of the Mexican market by 2030, and said a plant decision needs volumes near 250,000 units a year.

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Roku and TCL expand alliance, aiming for close to half of Mexico's TV sales in 2027

Roku, citing Circana data, says four in ten TVs sold in Mexico between January and September 2026 run its system, and it aims to approach five in ten in 2027 through a wider alliance with TCL. New TCL models reach retail channels from the fourth quarter of 2026, first in 55, 65, 75 and 85 inches, and for the first time with Mini LED in Roku-powered TVs. Roku's Mexico head estimates about 90% of TCL TVs in 2027 will include Roku, ranks TCL as the country's third-largest TV brand, and says price remains the main buying criterion in Mexico.

INEGI estimates economic activity grew 3.7% year on year in September

INEGI's timely economic activity indicator (IOAE), published on 20 October, estimates that the September IGAE grew 3.7% year on year and 0.1% month on month, with tertiary activities up 4.0% and secondary activities up 3.6% year on year. The August estimate was 3.2% year on year. This is a model-based estimate, not the official figure, and the next release is due on 19 November.

Mexico's Senate passes the Digital Economy Law on digital and electronic payments

On 20 October the Senate passed, by 73 votes to 34 in the general vote, the Digital Economy Law for Digital and Electronic Payments and sent it to the Executive for publication in the DOF. The law aims to widen digital payments and reduce cash, sets rules for merchant collections and remote contracting of financial services, and would allow cash to be restricted in some activities. The Finance Ministry will later publish the list of sectors where digital payment becomes mandatory; Expansión says gas stations and toll booths would go first.

Sheinbaum: cargo airlines do not want to return to AICM; government is working on bottlenecks such as customs processing at AIFA

Mexico Business News reports that President Claudia Sheinbaum said on 20 October that cargo airlines from the US, Europe and elsewhere told her they do not want to go back to Mexico City's AICM because they have built a more efficient logistics operation at Felipe Ángeles (AIFA). She said her government met cargo firms from the US, Europe and Mexico to resolve lingering administrative bottlenecks, including customs processing inside the AIFA cargo terminal. The US Department of Transportation had lifted on 16 October its restrictions on new routes by Mexican airlines.

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