MERIDA.— Leaders of the main companies in the United States asked the government of Donald Trump promote the renewal of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) in 2026.
They also warned about the risk that, in their opinion, the “politicization of the Judiciary” in Mexico. They stated that it threatens independent arbitrations and the stability of foreign investments in the country.
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According to the newspaper Reformthe businessmen grouped in the Business Roundtable (BRT) —an association that brings together some 200 CEOs of global corporations such as Tim Cook (Apple), Jamie Dimon (JPMorgan Chase), Mary Barra (General Motors) and Raj Subramaniam (FedEx)—issued a document addressed to the US Administration.
In it, the signatories express their concern about what they consider “discrimination” by the Mexican Government towards foreign companies in strategic sectors such as energy, telecommunications, aviation and parcel services.
Complaints from US businessmen
Business leaders pointed out that in the energy sector, Mexico favors Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). In telecommunications, it privileges Telmexowned by Carlos Slim and in aviation, protects Mexican Aviation. In cargo and parcel services, it imposes obstacles on international firms, such as the obligation to obtain postal licenses, with the aim of protecting the Mexican Postal Service.
1️⃣ The CEOs of the most powerful companies in the United States—Apple, GM, JPMorgan, FedEx, Walmart—have just denounced that Mexico is experiencing a collapse of the Rule of Law. They talk about judges elected by popular vote, harassment by the SAT, disguised expropriations and favoritism to… pic.twitter.com/CeymYBbwke
— José Mario (@JoseMarioMX) November 1, 2025
The BRT stressed that these actions contravene the provisions of the T-MEC and directly affect cross-border trade. “Recent judicial reforms in Mexico, including efforts to eliminate independent regulators, will negatively affect the investment climate in the country,” the businessmen warned.
They also expressed concern about the Mexican proposal to elect the judges by popular vote. In his opinion, this could subject judicial decisions to “political considerations rather than the rule of law.”
Call to restore the ISDS mechanism
To reduce the risks that, according to CEOs, “judicial politicization” implies, the Business Roundtable recommended that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) restore the Investor-State Dispute Settlement Mechanism (ISDS) within the T-MEC.
That mechanism, included in the old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) but limited in the current T-MEC, it allowed US investors to sue the Mexican State before independent international courts.
“The mere existence of the ISDS Mechanism would likely give pause to political figures considering expropriations or pressuring courts to bow to political whims,” the document cited by Reform.
Criticism in the US of Cofepris
The organization recalled several cases that, according to them, exemplify the deterioration of the investment environment: the expropriation of a quarry owned by a US company and the imposition of retroactive taxes on insurance companies.
They also criticized the operation of the Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris). They described it as an agency with a “lack of regulatory consistency” that delays the approval of American medical and biological products.
The Business Roundtable concluded its message by reiterating that current conditions in Mexico “put the confidence of U.S. investors at risk.” He requested that the next review of the T-MEC in 2026 serves to “reestablish legal certainty” between partner countries.
Warnings from businessmen
Among the observations that the BRT sent to the US government, the following points stand out:
- Judicial reform: They consider that it undermines the investment climate and the rule of law.
- Investor rights: They call for restoring the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism.
- Digital barriers: They point out regulations that restrict digital commerce, violating the T-MEC.
- Tax practices: They denounce “unreasonable” SAT audits against multinationals.
- Discrimination in favor of state companies: They question the preferential treatment towards Pemex, CFE and Mexicana de Aviación.
- Inconsistent regulation: They accuse Cofepris of having an unequal approach that harms foreign companies.