Sheinbaum Rejects Salinas Debt Talks / Seeks Dialogue with China

Salinas Pliego’s Debt. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the tax debts of Ricardo Salinas Pliego’s companies are not negotiable and will be resolved strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the Fiscal Code. Her remarks came after Salinas Pliego requested a dialogue table with the government to address the issue.

“This is not a matter of backroom negotiations. Those times are over. This is about the law, not about deciding what applies and what does not at a negotiation table. Any taxpayer has the same rights, provided they comply and pay what they owe,” stated Sheinbaum, stressing that “nothing and no one is above the law.”

During the press conference, Grisel Galeano, Federal Tax Prosecutor, explained that Grupo Salinas faces nine ongoing tax cases amounting to MX$48.38 billion (US$2.63 billion), currently under review at the Supreme Court. The cases involve four related companies accused of improper consolidations, invalid deductions, and simulated fiscal losses.

One of the largest disputes concerns the 2013 fiscal year, with an alleged debt of MX$24.97 billion (US$1.36 billion), linked to the company’s failure to reverse tax losses previously used to reduce payments in 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012, as required by the termination of the fiscal consolidation regime. Courts have already ruled twice in favor of the Tax Administration Service (SAT), but the case awaits a final decision by the Supreme Court.

Another case from 2008, worth MX$2.1 billion (US$114 million), involves allegedly improper losses declared through share sales and intra-group transactions designed to simulate losses. Authorities also accuse the companies of artificial mergers and spin-offs to reduce tax liabilities, cases also previously won by SAT in lower courts but still pending final resolution.

Proposes High-Level Dialogue With China Over Tariff Dispute. Sheinbaum announced Friday that her government is seeking a “high-level dialogue table” with China to address the tariffs Mexico is considering on imports from countries without free trade agreements, including the Asian nation. Her comments followed Beijing’s announcement of a formal investigation into what it described as “restrictive measures.”

“We are proposing a high-level working group to hold discussions. We have a very good relationship with China, and we are interested in dialogue so they can understand why these measures are being considered,” stated Sheinbaum.

She explained that the planned measures are not aimed solely at China, but are part of Mexico’s broader strategy to improve its trade balance and strengthen domestic production under the Plan México. “In nearly four years, imports have increased by about 83%. Exports have also grown, but what we want is to produce more in Mexico,” stated Sheinbaum.

Sheinbaum confirmed that both Marcelo Ebrard, Minister of Economy and other senior Mexican officials have raised the issue with China’s ambassador in Mexico, emphasizing the government’s openness to dialogue. “We are very interested in establishing working groups so they can understand the current situation, including the impact of very low prices,” she stated.

Rejecting suggestions of trade tensions, Sheinbaum insisted that relations between Mexico and China remain strong: “This is not about conflict. It is about strengthening our economy. We are always open to dialogue and to finding agreements that benefit Mexico.”

Sheinbaum Condemns Violent Acts in Ayotzinapa Protest. Sheinbaum also condemned the violent actions that took place Thursday during a protest in Mexico City, which were related to the case of the 43 missing Ayotzinapa students. Hooded demonstrators, accompanying the victims’ families and classmates, set fire to a truck and rammed it into the gates of Military Camp No. 1.

“We do not agree with violent actions. We have never agreed with them. It looks more like a provocation, and we are not going to fall into provocation,” Sheinbaum stated.

Sheinbaum warned that such violent demonstrations often aim to provoke repression by the government. “There will be no repression, because that would mean falling into the trap. But we do not support violent acts like those that occurred yesterday,” she stated.

The incident came amid mobilizations marking the 11th anniversary of the 2014 disappearance of the 43 students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College. Protesters carried out graffiti, threw explosives, and drove a cargo truck into the camp’s gates, which were torn down.