On the corner of 5 de Febrero and Venustiano Carranza, just one block from the Government Headquarters of Mexico City, a man offers socks with designs of characters from disney, Marvel and Hello Kitty in a semi-permanent position, at a price of three for 100 pesos.
These products have in common their “made in China” label, which are sold both on public roads and in various establishments in the Historic Center.
A few days after the anti-piracy operation carried out on November 28 by local and federal authorities, called “Operation Cleaning” in the “México Mart” plaza the trade in Asian products persists both in formal establishments and in informal trade.
However, given the warning that there will be more operations, some merchants of Asian origin have taken measures to protect their goods, moving them from warehouses in the historic center to other areas of the city.
The ‘invasion’ of Chinese products
Despite the recent operation and the warnings issued by the authorities, thousands of products of Chinese origin continue to be sold in the historic center of Mexico City both on public roads and in established stores and shopping plazas.
During a tour through the streets of the Historic Center, it was found that this activity takes place in full view of police and authorities, even a few steps from the headquarters of the local and federal executive powers.
On Moneda Street, right next to the National Palace—where President Claudia Sheinbaum works—dozens of informal merchants known as “bullfighters” place tarps on the floor to offer merchandise. They sell everything from rechargeable batteries, thermoses, electronic devices, toys to gel pellet guns.
(David Santiago)
Most of the items sold in streets such as Moneda, Corregidora, Correo Mayor, Las Cruces, Academia, Soledad and Jesús María are of Asian origin. Even some informal merchants place signs with the legend: “Stolen from Liverpool”with which they seek to attract buyers interested in toys or perfumes at considerably low prices.
In established stores on streets such as Correo Mayor, Apartado, and Peña y Peña, electronic devices of Chinese origin are sold, both wholesale and retail. A characteristic of these businesses is that they do not accept electronic payments or bank deposits; Payments are in cash and in person in the store. There are also no shipments to other parts of the country.
A few streets from the office of the head of government, Clara Brugada, such as 5 de Febrero, Isabel la Católica, Venustiano Carranza, Republic of Uruguay, Mesones and Republic of El Salvador, until reaching the Lázaro Cárdenas Central Axis, a smaller number is observed of sellers. However, there are still dozens of merchants who, in full view of the capital’s police, offer clothing, electronic devices and vaping devices, all with labels indicating their origin: “Made in China”.
