The news: Walmart Mexico (Walmex) will invest $6 billion in Mexico this year, CEO Ignacio Caride said.

• The funds will go toward increasing its store footprint and enhancing its ecommerce capabilities, among other things.
• The investment will create 5,500 jobs, per Caride—a boost for Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum as she looks for ways to mitigate tariffs’ impact on the economy.

Political advantages: The timing of the investment couldn’t be better for Sheinbaum, who is facing down considerable uncertainty given the unpredictable nature and scope of the Trump administration’s tariff policies.

It also could keep Walmex from becoming a target of consumer boycotts amid growing anti-American sentiment—which the company is trying to avoid by emphasizing that 83% of the products sold in its stores are sourced locally.