General News

January 1, 1994 marks the 20th anniversary of two consequential events in Mexico’s history: one still fiercely debated and the other largely forgotten.

Mexico’s federal government has raised the upper limit of merchandise that foreigners and Mexican nationals can bring through Mexican airports from 300 to 500 dollars in value.

New taxes approved last year on high calorific food – defined as products with 275 calories or more per 100 grams – will kick in January 1, as the federal government seeks to combat Mexico’s growing obesity problem.  In late October Mexico’s legislators also agreed to a one peso  per liter surcharge on all sugary soft drinks. 

Some 20,000 archaeological sites have been discovered in Mexico but only 200 are open to the public. Of these, a mere 20 attract 90 percent of all foreign and domestic visitors.

Refreshed tax code to bring in the new year Significant changes to Mexico’s taxation code, approved by Congress last year, take effect on January 1, 2014, as federal authorities seek to clamp down on tax evasion and widen the country’s taxable base.

A group of senators has proposed an initiative that would change Mexico’s federal code to define marriage as “the free union of two people.”

After a 20-hour session, the Mexican Senate Wednesday morning approved historic legislation that will open up the country’s stagnant energy sector to private investment.

In his first year of office Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has overseen a sluggish economy with an expected growth rate less than half (1.3 percent) of that registered in his predecessor Felipe Calderon’s debut year (3.1 percent).