The Trump administration recently named six of Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, or FTOs. The new designation widens who can be charged for supporting these groups. What effect might this have? Pablo Zárate of FTI Consulting looks at how business operating in Mexico will have to revamp compliance with increased risk. And Cecilia Farfán-Méndez of ITAM explains the complexity of the drug trade and spotlights how this action may impact the bilateral relationship.

Read more about the FTO designation:

• AS/COA Explainer: Which Cartels and Groups Is Trump Designating as Foreign Terrorist Organizations?
• FTI Consulting: Know Your Risk: Terrorist Designation of Cartels on Business Interests in Mexico
• Cecilia Farfán-Méndez's testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Get all the analysis on the Trump administration’s actions toward Latin America: www.as-coa.org/trump

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Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

A previously released version of this podcast included information that fentanyl deaths are rising. In fact, the latest complete data from the CDC shows that from September 2023 to September 2024, overdose deaths fell by 24 percent.

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

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