With President Donald Trump’s departure from office and the inauguration of President Joe Biden comes the prospect of major shifts in the relationship between the United States and Mexico. President Biden has taken immediate steps to reverse policies of the prior administration in areas that may have a substantial impact on those doing business in Mexico and along the border between the two countries. These changes come at a time when Mexico itself is in a state of flux under the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who took office in December 2018.

How these shifts develop in the Biden Administration remains to be seen. The US-Mexico relationship is strong, but also faces new hurdles, including López Obrador’s continued populist agenda, new migration challenges, a global pandemic with profound impact in both countries and cross-border criminal justice controversies. Awareness and understanding of these shifts, and of the key players and policies at work, will be critical as businesses position themselves in the initial months of the Biden Administration.