The first visible effect came this Thursday when the US Chamber of Commerce denounced that the revenue agency has increased what it claimed are aggressive and opaque practices that violate the USMCA. According to sources at the National Palace, both Altagracia Gómez, Claudia Sheinbaum's main business liaison, and Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard recommended to the president a change in the SAT to improve the investment climate. Notably, rivals within the economic team agree on the fate of the SAT. Not only were delays in VAT refunds or extreme treatment of some corporations pointed out to the head of state, but Antonio Martínez Dagnino also takes up to a month to grant meetings to handle urgent matters. The scandal with SAT bureaucrats fueled the theory that Martínez would finally leave, but the crisis passed and the official remains. Those not following the plot closely might think the main support is Andy López Beltrán, but in reality, Sheinbaum herself has become the great guarantor of the SAT head. Martínez has become a recurring source of consultation for the president and in these exchanges, he has completely convinced her of something she herself expressed certain doubts about last year: that a tax reform to broaden the tax base is not necessary. "US companies are increasingly subject to practices by Mexico's SAT that lack transparency and due process guarantees, and do not comply with Mexican legislation or international best practices," the US Chamber said. "These actions create a high degree of uncertainty and risk of unjust sanctions, a practice the SAT uses to obtain additional revenue," added the organization that groups more than 3 million firms. For a month now, a subtle lobbying effort has been underway at the highest levels of the National Palace with the ultimate goal of forcing a change in the leadership of the SAT. Martínez is convinced that with the existing base, despite growing informality, there is no need for a reform that, moreover, is valued by rating agencies but viewed with reluctance by the national business community. Regarding the SAT, there are no commitments with Palenque or with Andy, but rather a great programmatic synchrony. In a document presented within the framework of the public consultations on the USMCA opened by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), the US Chamber accused the actions of the Mexican agency of violating the principles of non-discrimination, predictability, and transparency contained in Chapter 14.
