The Mexpat Dispatch: Feb. 20
5 economy + business stories from the national conversation
Welcome to The Mexpatriate.
The annual U.S. Census Bureau trade data published this week gives Mexico both a leverage boost and a sore point in negotiations with the White House. Despite Trump’s tariff bravado—which was just chastened today by the U.S. Supreme Court—and declining exports in the automotive sector, Mexico’s total exports to the U.S. still managed to set a new record of US $535 billion in 2025. Mexico also edged out Canada as the largest recipient of U.S. exports in the world (15.5% of the total).
While Mexico’s imports from the U.S. ticked up last year, the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico hit a historic high of US $196.9 billion. This will ruffle the feathers of trade hawks in Washington, but they should be reminded that Mexico’s growing trade surplus has come at China’s expense. Trade between the U.S. and China contracted by 28.7% in 2025, and U.S. imports of electronics and advanced technology from Mexico have accelerated—regional supply chains are gaining strength.
In today’s dispatch, I cover five economy + business stories, including the Canadian business mission to Mexico, rent increase caps in Mexico City and the pushback faced by Royal Caribbean in Mahahual.
