Mexico’s Sheinbaum Meets US Envoy, CEOs on 8 October

MEXICO · POLITICS

Over almost two and a half hours at the National Palace, US executives put their trade-pact worries to Mexico’s president.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum met US Ambassador Ronald Johnson and a delegation of US chief executives on Thursday, 8 October. The talks at the National Palace in Mexico City covered investment, the North American trade pact, tariffs and border security.

The stakes for US companies are large, because Mexico was the biggest US goods trading partner from January to August. Two-way goods trade reached US$682.8 billion in that period, according to US Census Bureau data released on Tuesday, 6 October.

What Sheinbaum and the Business Leaders Said

Sheinbaum wrote on X that she received members of the US Chamber of Commerce, accompanied by Ambassador Ronald Johnson. They talked about “the confidence in Mexico that secures investment by US companies” and the trade relationship, she said.

The US Chamber of Commerce is a leading Washington lobby group for American business. Its president and chief executive, Suzanne Clark, led the visit, according to Mexico’s Business Coordinating Council (CCE).

The CCE, the umbrella group of Mexico’s private sector, called the delegation a “mission of US CEOs”. El Universal, a Mexico City daily, reported that the meeting lasted almost two and a half hours.

Earlier that morning, Johnson met Foreign Secretary Roberto Velasco at the Foreign Ministry to follow up on the bilateral agenda. The ministry said they discussed “positive results” of security cooperation based on sovereignty, shared responsibility, mutual trust and “cooperation without subordination”.

US Companies Want the Trade Pact Renewed

José Medina Mora, who heads the CCE, told reporters that renewing the pact is the main concern of US business. He said companies want a full review that extends it “16 more years, with reviews every six”, El Universal reported.

Medina Mora said bilateral negotiations focus on cutting Section 232 tariffs on cars, steel, aluminium, copper and components. Section 232 is a US law that lets the president impose import duties on national-security grounds.

He added that some US firms want to invest in Mexico but face projects that are “stuck”. An office chaired by Sheinbaum that meets every week has committed to unblocking investment projects, he said.

Altagracia Gómez Sierra, who coordinates Sheinbaum’s business advisory council on regional development and relocation, said a “very large delegation” attended. She said good investment projects were announced, without naming companies or amounts.

Where the USMCA Review Stands

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), called T-MEC in Mexico, entered into force on 1 July 2020. At the first joint review on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, the United States did not agree to extend it for 16 years.

The three countries must now hold a joint review every year until all confirm an extension, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said. Without one, the pact ends on 1 July 2036.

On Friday, 2 October, USTR opened public comments ahead of the 2027 annual review. Written comments and requests to testify at a public hearing are due by Tuesday, 12 January 2027.

The CCE struck an upbeat note after the meeting, saying Mexico has the pact “for at least 10 more years”.

Security and the Border in the Background

Medina Mora said Johnson credited Mexico with helping make the shared border “the most secure” in recent years. He also said the ambassador linked Mexico’s actions to less fentanyl trafficking and fewer US fentanyl deaths.

On Saturday, 3 October, Johnson said Mexico had sent 159 naval personnel, 11 vehicles and two drones to the border. About 500 US military personnel are deployed on the north side, he added.

The meeting also came three days after Sheinbaum questioned Johnson’s presence at a 2 October groundbreaking for a police academy in Querétaro. The Foreign Ministry says any foreign security training needs prior approval from Mexico’s High-Level Security Group.

White House drug policy director Sara Carter separately warned that Washington would pursue Mexican officials, even governors, who help cartels.

What It Means for You

For US manufacturers with plants in Mexico, yearly reviews mean the pact’s future comes up for debate every 12 months. Renewal was the visiting executives’ main concern, according to Mexico’s business council.

Any cut in Section 232 tariffs would lower costs for cross-border car, steel, aluminium and copper supply chains. No such cut was announced on Thursday.

Investors should watch whether Sheinbaum’s office unblocks the stalled projects that US firms raised. The investment climate in North America is one of the topics USTR wants comments on before the 2027 review.

Nothing announced on Thursday changes border crossings or travel rules for US citizens.

What Is Not Known

Neither government nor the US Chamber had released a full readout or a list of participating companies by early Friday. Which investments were announced, and their value, is not public.

The US Embassy had not published its own account, so Medina Mora’s summary of Johnson’s remarks is unconfirmed. It is also unclear whether the Querétaro police academy came up at the National Palace.

What Comes Next

USTR will publish the date and place of its public hearing on its website. The date of the 2027 annual joint review has not been announced.

Thursday’s meeting does not change the pact’s legal status, which runs until 2036 unless all three countries agree to extend it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ronald Johnson?

Ronald D. Johnson is the US ambassador to Mexico, Washington’s top diplomat in the country. He attended Thursday’s meeting with US Chamber of Commerce executives.

What is the USMCA?

It is the free trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada, in force since 1 July 2020. Mexico calls it T-MEC.

Did the US agree to extend the USMCA?

No. At the first joint review on 1 July 2026, the United States did not agree to a new 16-year term.

What did US companies ask for?

Renewal of the pact for 16 more years and lower Section 232 tariffs, according to Mexico’s business council chief. Some also want stalled investment projects unblocked.

Does the meeting affect US travellers?

No new travel or border rules were announced. The talks focused on trade, investment and security cooperation.

Sources: Claudia Sheinbaum on X, 8 October; Mexico’s Foreign Ministry on X, 8 October; Foreign Ministry statement on Querétaro, 5 October; Business Coordinating Council (CCE) on X; Office of the US Trade Representative; Federal Register notice 2026-20341; US Census Bureau, August 2026 trade report; Ambassador Ronald Johnson on X, 3 October; El Universal via Vanguardia; El Imparcial; Infobae México; Vanguardia (Sara Carter) (all accessed 9 October 2026).