By: Eduardo Rivera S.
President of the Editorial Board of Grupo Mundo Ejecutivo
When you have been watching the trade relationship between Mexico and the United States for years, you know that there are moments of tension and that negotiation is an art that defines economic success. What happened a few days ago is proof of this: President Claudia Sheinbaum managed to stop, at least for a month, Trump’s threat to impose the 25% tariff on Mexican exports. And while this gives temporary respite to companies that were on the verge of a financial hit, the question is: what’s next?
And this is not only an issue for the international trade, but also about the economic base of entire cities, from Tijuana to Reynosa, in Mexico. For this reason, I am aware that the imposition of tariffs by the government of Trump goes beyond being just a protectionist measure, as it is a direct threat to Mexico’s work and economic stability.
This month of truce is not a definitive victory, it is only extra time in a match that is still being played. The Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco Servytur) has warned that uncertainty continues to weigh on businessmen, because if we know anything, it is that Trump does not back down easily. Mexico cannot afford to be confident; This period must be used intelligently to negotiate strategically and strengthen our position.
From my experience in the business sector, I see clearly that this pause is not for celebration, but for action. It’s time to consolidate alternative trade agreements, diversify markets, and strengthen our key industries to reduce the dependence on some sectors in the U.S. If this impasse allows us to rethink our position, it is welcome. But if it’s only used to hope Trump will change his mind, we’ll have wasted an invaluable opportunity.
President Sheinbaum has managed to contain the onslaught for now, but the real challenge will be to make sure that Mexico is not at the mercy of unilateral decisions again. And that can only be achieved with strategy, unity and concrete actions.
A Strategic Pause: The Time That Mexico Must Take Advantage Of
What makes this tariff blow even more difficult to assimilate is that it is accompanied by a double discourse. While initiatives are being launched in Mexico to generate employment for migrants deported from the U.S., companies established on the border –those that already generate employment and contribute to GDP– are paralyzed waiting for their permits to be released. More than 350 companies that requested authorization to operate under the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) have been detained since December 2024, without producing, exporting and receiving a response. And behind each stopped company there are workers who depend on their payroll, there are suppliers who are affected and families who live in uncertainty.
The IMMEX program is not a small niche market. According to INEGI data, in 2017 alone it represented 55.7% of Mexico’s total exports and in 2021 it directly employed more than 3.3 million people. But delays in operating permits have meant that more than 500,000 jobs remain at risk. In other words, while in the country’s capital there is talk of generating employment and attracting investment, on the border the factories are still stopped because the permits are not released.
This is where the inconsistency becomes most apparent. If we really want to strengthen the economy, the first step is to protect those who already generate employment in Mexico, instead of leaving them in uncertainty. Because if these delays persist, it will not be only the workers who pay the consequences: Mexico will lose its attractiveness for foreign investment and companies could choose to take their production to other countries with better operating conditions.
A Direct Growth to Mexico’s Competitiveness
The problem with Trump’s tariffs is not only that they make inputs more expensive, but that they affect the integration of production chains between Mexico and the U.S. It should not be forgotten that last year alone, 84% of non-oil exports were destined for the United States. If production becomes more expensive in our country due to these tariffs and the lack of government response, the competitiveness of our industry will be seriously affected.
Large investments do not wait. Companies in the automotive, aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors are already evaluating alternatives in this scenario. Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to grow and the government’s responses have been insufficient. However, the imposition of tariffs not only puts the competitiveness of our exports at risk, but also directly affects entrepreneurs, workers and consumers in both countries. Concanaco Servytur warned that this decision is a unilateral measure that contradicts the principles of the USMCA and, far from strengthening the regional economy, will cause inflation in the northern country, loss of jobs on the border and a brake on bilateral trade.
In the midst of all this, it is imperative that Mexico strongly defend trade as an independent pillar of political and migration conflicts. We cannot allow tariffs to be used as a bargaining chip to put pressure on other agendas. As President Claudia Sheinbaum has pointed out, dialogue and cooperation must be the way to resolve differences, not the threats or tariff bumps that affect both sides of the border. It is time to demand respect for trade agreements and to remember that our economic strength is not in submission, but in strategic negotiation.
Mexico’s Option: Defend Itself with the USMCA
One of Mexico’s great trade achievements was the renegotiation of the USMCA, which gave us preferential access to one of the largest markets in the world. However, what the U.S. is doing with these tariffs goes against the agreements established in the treaty. It is time for Mexico to make use of the dispute settlement mechanisms of the USMCA to challenge this decision and protect its industries.
A Call to Action
Every day without a clear solution, costs increase and uncertainty grows. We can’t afford to wait for the crisis to worsen before making decisions. From my position at Global Media Investment and as Chairman of the Editorial Board of Mundo Ejecutivo, I call on the Mexican government to act immediately to release the operating permits of the detained companies, challenge the tariffs before the USMCA and design a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the effects of this trade policy on the national economy.
The future of Mexican industry can’t be left to improvisation. We need certainty, leadership and long-term vision. Mexico’s competitiveness is at stake and, with it, the livelihood of thousands of families. It is not a matter of ideologies or politics, but of common sense and responsibility to those who generate employment and sustain the country’s economy.
Mexico has the capacity to emerge stronger from this crisis, but only if we make firm and timely decisions. There is no time to lose.
