☀ Domingo Brief — Brazil’s retail boom, Mexico’s electoral surprise, & Nicaragua’s China FTA

Each Sunday, take two minutes to catch key stories and opportunities shaping Latin America.

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Welcome back to the Domingo Brief! This week, we’re looking at the surprising developments in Mexico’s presidential election, Argentina riding Brazilian tailwinds when it needs, the Nicaraguan free-trade agreement with China, and more!

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Trivia of the Week

Precisely half of you correctly guessed Benito Juárez was the first indigenous head of state of the postcolonial Americas. While leaders such as former Bolivian President Evo Morales came later, Juárez was the original, ruling as the 26th president of Mexico from 1858 to 1872. The Oaxaca-born lawyer successfully opposed the French intervention in Mexico and is today considered one of the most popular presidents in Mexican history.

Each week, tune back in for the answer to the previous week’s trivia question. No cheating!

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🇦🇷 Argentina will be sealing an agreement with neighboring Brazil, as well as the CAF development bank, in the coming weeks to allow for imports from Brazil without requiring the immediate use of foreign currency. This move, which rides on the tailwinds of Brazil’s current economic success in the midst of Argentinean financial crisis, is anticipated to slightly bolster the position of the country’s Finance Minister, Sergio Massa, in the lead-up to next month’s election.

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🇧🇷 Brazil’s retail industry experienced an impressive 72% rise in new job postings in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter. This represented the first rise in job postings since Q3 2021, with pharmacy giant RaiaDrogasil and retailer Lojas Renner leading the way in terms of hiring growth.