Mexican Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O has stepped down, two sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, having been appointed by the country’s previous president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Edgar Amador Zamora, who currently is deputy finance minister, has been tapped to replace Ramirez de la O, the two sources said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the information was private.
In June of last year, Ramirez de la O sought to reassure investors and said he would stay in his current role with the incoming government of President Claudia Sheinbaum to reduce public debt and maintain financial discipline.
It was not clear why he decided to step down. The finance ministry did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
The reshuffle in the finance ministry, which was first reported by local media, comes as Latin America’s second-largest economy is facing possible tariffs from its northern neighbor and most important trade partner.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump suspended tariffs of 25% he had imposed this week on most goods from Mexico and Canada, the latest twist in a fluctuating trade policy that has whipsawed markets and fanned worries about inflation and growth.
The exemptions expire on April 2, when Trump has threatened to impose a global regime of reciprocal tariffs on all of the country’s trading partners.