MARCH 2009 EDITION ARCHIVE

• • Legal Updates

    300 PALABRAS - Mexico-United States: A New Era of Cooperation

    Opinion by Dr. Mario Melgar-Adalid Mexico's fight against organized crime has changed the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States. Mexico characterizes the drug trafficking problem as a bilateral issue, since the demand for narcotics and the availability of high-caliber weapons originate in the United States. Such problem is now recognized in the United States as being serious and shared by both countries, partly as a result of President Obama's new administration. Recent... [Read More]

  • Recent Jurisprudence - Commercial Bond

    The First Chamber of Mexico's Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) recently published in the Weekly Judicial Journal of the Federation civil jurisprudence number Ia./J.95/2008 under the heading Commercial Bond. In order for an action for collection to proceed, the surety company must show it gave notice to the obligor, or the applicant, joint obligors or indemnitors of the surety company, concerning a claim for payment made by the beneficiary of such bond. The highest court of the nation held that... [Read More]

  • Determination of the Integral Daily Salary Pursuant to Mexico’s Federal Labor Law

    Mexico's Federal Labor Law (LFT) provides that the indemnification to which terminated employees are entitled must be calculated in terms of the daily integral salary (SDI). Thus, the calculation of severance indemnification, which includes three months of pay, twenty days of pay per year of employment and salary accrued between the date of termination and the date on which the severance indemnification is settled, is based on the SDI. Article 84 of the LFT provides: "Salary is composed... [Read More]

  • New Guidelines for the Use of the "Made in Mexico" Logo

    On February 23, 2009, the Department of Economy published in the Official Journal of the Federation the "Ruling by which the ‘Made in Mexico' logo is displayed and in which the requirements to receive authorization of its use are set forth." The new logo maintains the graphic representation of an eagle and the text "Made in Mexico," yet the new logo seeks, as stated in the Ruling, to create a more amicable and attractive image. In terms of color, size and other specifications... [Read More]

  • Business & Politics Outlook

    Mexico’s Economic Crisis: From a Cold to a Tsunami. The Dollar at a Historical High

    After declaring a few months ago that Mexico would only suffer from a "minor cold" as a result of the economic crisis in the United States, Mexico's Secretary of the Department of Treasury and Public Credit, Agustin Carstens, now recognizes that Mexico is facing a "tsunami." What is certain is that the world economic crisis has significantly affected Mexico and particularly its export manufacture industry. Almost all macroeconomic indicators show negative signs: drop in Gross... [Read More]

  • The Department of Economy Publishes Ruling to Implement Trade Embargoes Issued by the United Nation’s Security Council

    The Department of the Economy recently published in the Official Journal of the Federation the "Ruling Prohibiting the Export or Import of Various Goods to Countries, Entities and Specified Persons." The Ruling purports to implement in Mexico trade resolutions adopted by the United Nation's Security Council against certain countries, entities and persons in order to maintain and preserve international peace and security. Specifically, the Security Council has imposed general economic... [Read More]

  • Economic Indicators

    Peso/Dollar Exchange Rate

    The quoted exchange rate as of March 12, 2009 was $14.9083 pesos per dollar.

  • Mexican Stock Exchange

    The Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) closed on March 12, 2009 at 18,864.87 points.

  • Interest Rates

    On March 12, 2009, the Average Interbank Interest Rate (TIEE) for a 28-day period was at 7.8950%.

  • Mexico IP Info

    Registration of Trademark License Agreements

    Many foreign companies have their marks duly registered in Mexico; notwithstanding such, the lack of use of such trademarks by their owners or by an "authorized user" may cause the cancellation of such trademark's registration if any third party petitions for such cancellation to the Mexican Industrial Property Institute, pursuant to the provisions set forth in article 152 of the Industrial Property Law. The effective use in commerce of trademarks registered in Mexico is done by licensees... [Read More]