Mexico roadblocks continue as farmers, truckers reject govt offers

Mexico — Farmers and truckers have issued a national call to maintain roadblocks and protests at customs points after failing to reach an agreement with the Ministry of the Interior (Segob) on their key demands, including greater security for operators, fair prices for agricultural products, and a review of the General Water Law.

The call comes two days after both groups convened a national strike, following a meeting with federal authorities that lasted for hours and concluded without progress. The department headed by Rosa Icela Rodríguez did not achieve consensus with the organizations, further straining the situation.

ANTAC Reports 40 Active Blockades in the Country

David Estévez, president of the National Association of Truckers (ANTAC), stated that the lack of agreements stemmed from inequality in the proposals directed at both sectors.

The leader indicated that, although advances were offered to the trucking sector, farmers’ organizations “received absolutely nothing,” which prevented the construction of a common agreement. Estévez reported that around 40 blockades remain active in various states.

Farmers Denounce Lack of Responses and Call for Continuation of Protests

For his part, Eraclio Rodríguez, leader of the National Front for the Rescue of the Mexican Countryside, assured that agricultural producers will continue resisting at protest points. In an interview with Azucena Uresti, he described the federal government as “stunned” and without negotiation capacity.

Rodríguez noted that during the meeting, the Secretary of Agriculture, Julio Berdegué, did not participate and left the encounter without intervening. He detailed that the breakdown occurred when officials conditioned the negotiation on the withdrawal of the blockades.

The farmers’ front maintains a petition with five points:

1. Promotion of agriculture with a nationalist focus.
2. Withdrawal from the free trade agreement regarding basic grains.
3. Creation of a development bank for the countryside.
4. Establishment of guaranteed prices for all products and producers.
5. Thorough review of the General Water Law.

Rodríguez suggested that a more effective interlocutor could be Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of the Economy.

Negotiations Stall and Leaders Call for Continued Mobilization

After the meeting at Segob during the early hours of Wednesday, leaders from both groups confirmed that the dialogue table ended without agreements and without a formal agreement. They stated they left “worse than they entered,” indicating that the proposal presented by the government “said nothing.”

Truckers and farmers reiterated their alliance and called on their bases to remain in the protests, announcing that they will analyze new forms of pressure to ensure their demands are heard.

Road Blockades and Affected Points

Among the roadways and toll booths where blockades or protests are reported are:

• Maravatío – Zapotlanejo (Jalisco)
• Irapuato – Zapotlanejo (Guanajuato and Jalisco)
• Acatlán de Juárez – Colima (Jalisco)
• Santa Rosa – La Barca (Jalisco)
• La Barca – Atotonilco (Jalisco)
• Various toll booths in Michoacán: Panindícuaro, Vista Hermosa, Zinapécuaro, Ecuandureo
• Briseñas – Sahuayo (Michoacán)
• Camargo – Saucillo (Chihuahua)
• Chihuahua – Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua)
• Delicias (Chihuahua)
• Ciudad Juárez Customs – Zaragoza Bridge (Chihuahua)
• San Luis Río Colorado – Mexicali (Baja California)
• Sections Culiacán – Los Mochis and Mazatlán – Culiacán (Sinaloa)
• Northern Bypass and sections in San Martín Texmelucan (Tlaxcala)
• Tlaxcala – Puebla Highway
• Various sections in Tamaulipas: Ciudad Victoria – Matamoros, Matamoros – Reynosa, Tampico – Mante