Andrés Manuel López Obrador

Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador quietly rocked the agribusiness world with his New Year’s Eve decree to phase out the use of the herbicide glyphosate and the cultivation of genetically modified corn. His administration sent an even stronger aftershock two weeks later, clarifying that the government would also phase out GM corn imports in three years. The ban would include not just corn for human consumption but yellow corn destined primarily for livestock. Under NAFTA, the United States has seen a 400% increase in corn exports to Mexico, the vast majority of genetically modified yellow dent corn.

The bold policy moves fulfil a campaign promise by Mexico’s populist president, whose agricultural policies have begun to favour Mexican producers, particularly small-scale farmers, and protect consumers alarmed by the rise of obesity and chronic diseases associated with high-fat, high-sugar processed foods.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Sunday he has tested positive for COVID-19 and that the symptoms are mild. Mr López Obrador, writing on Twitter, said he would continue to carry out his official duties, including holding a call with President Vladimir Putin that is set for Monday. According to local media, hours before disclosing that he had contracted the virus, Mr López Obrador, who flies commercial on all official trips, sat coach in a flight from San Luís Potosí to Mexico City reports.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday.

"I'm going to ask the foreign minister to carry out the relevant procedures to request that the UK government releases Mr. Assange and that Mexico offers him political asylum," Obrador told reporters and added that "Assange is a journalist and deserves a chance."

Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro and Mexico's Andrés Manuel López Obrador have both recognized Joe Biden’s victory, six weeks after Biden was elected president in the United States. Both populist leaders faced heavy criticism for their hesitation.

"Greetings to President Joe Biden with my best wishes and the hope that the US continues to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. I will be ready to work with the new government," Bolsanaro, who has been a Trump admirer, tweeted Tuesday afternoon.

Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador is set to attend the USMCA celebrations with Donald Trump in the White House. López Obrador, who previously stated that private presidential planes were for the "neoliberal elite", will fly commercially to Washington.