On the eve of his inauguration and his party's return to power, Mexico's new president, Enrique Peña Nieto, vowed to reshape his country's education, business and energy sectors in ways that could have profound effects on the United States.

Mexico, the United States' southern neighbor offers transportation distances a fraction of those from Asia, a labor force a good deal cheaper than domestic workers, and a country causing fewer headaches about intellectual property and other trade concerns. But in recent years, drug-related violence along the border has caused some manufacturers to be more cautious about making the move to Mexico.