The Mexican government and the European Union are moving forward with modernizing their trade agreement to allow duty-free access to more than 83% of Mexican agri-food products. This strategic move aims to reduce reliance on North America, which currently accounts for 90% of the sector's exports.
Débora Alcocer, head of the Trade Negotiations Unit at the Ministry of Economy, explained that this progress is part of the modernization efforts for the treaty with the European bloc, Mexico's third-largest trading partner. The remaining products will undergo a gradual tariff reduction process to provide businesses with greater predictability.
“This opens a very significant window for all Mexican producers and exporters,” Alcocer noted during the opening of the Mexico–European Union Forum: Agri-Food Opportunities and Diversification.
The European Union Ambassador to Mexico, Francisco André, highlighted that the new agreement will reduce tariffs, eliminate quotas, and simplify processes. The diplomat pointed to products with high potential, including avocado, coffee, chocolate, meat, and oranges.
Inequality in the financial sector
While the agri-food sector seeks new markets, the specialized financial workforce is facing an income crisis. In Mexico, the average monthly income for an accountant is 8,868.23 pesos—a figure that barely exceeds the 2024 minimum wage and is projected to fall below the expected rate for 2026.
According to data from the Ministry of Economy via Data México, there are at least 541,956 people employed as accountants, auditors, or finance specialists. The workforce structure shows a slight female majority, at 52.5%.
However, the gender gap remains stark in terms of wages. The lowest recorded income belongs to women in the 55 to 64 age range, earning just 5,890 pesos per month. In contrast, men in the same age group earn an average of 10,500 pesos.
Jorge Esteve Colons, president of the National Agricultural Council, warned about the vulnerability of relying on a single market. “If we were a company with a single client that concentrated 90% of our sales, we would be worried,” he stated.
Geographically, accounting incomes vary drastically. Quintana Roo records the highest average at 14,542.80 pesos, while in Jalisco, the average drops to 5,765.48 pesos.
