Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Thursday her selection of economist Roberto Lazzeri to serve as Mexico’s new ambassador to the United States, marking a significant diplomatic change during crucial trade negotiations between the North American partners.
The nomination, which requires confirmation by Mexico’s Senate, would see Lazzeri take over from current Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma, who has served in the role since 2021 under former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Speaking at her daily morning briefing, Sheinbaum praised Lazzeri’s qualifications, noting that “He worked for a long time in the finance ministry” and “He has a very good relationship with the whole Mexican government and also with U.S. counterparts.”
Lazzeri currently leads two major Mexican development institutions, Nafin and Bancomext, and has extensive experience managing the federal government’s public debt obligations. His selection comes at a critical time as discussions intensify around reviewing the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The timing is particularly significant given Mexico’s heavy economic dependence on its northern neighbor, with approximately 80% of Mexican exports heading to U.S. markets. Mexican officials are working to secure relief from the comprehensive tariffs that President Donald Trump implemented last year, while also seeking greater predictability in trade relations to restore investor confidence that has been shaken by the unpredictable nature of recent trade policies.
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard acknowledged Wednesday that tariffs affecting Mexico’s automotive, steel, and aluminum industries will likely continue even if the trilateral trade agreement is successfully renewed.
