Mexico City – Just days after tariffs ranging from 5% to 50% went into effect for 1,463 tariff classifications , the National Council of the Export Manufacturing Industry (Index) offered the Mexican government dialogue and said they would be monitoring any modifications made to the decision.
In a statement, he said: “We will be attentive to the modifications to the General Import and Export Tax Law (LIGIE) and the Tariffs of the General Import and Export Tax Law (TIGIE) promoted by the federal government, through the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, to whom we reiterate our willingness to provide the vision of the export manufacturing sector with more than 60 years of experience.”
Although the Index did not comment on the tariff increase at the end of the year, this Tuesday it stated that " the updating and establishment of tariffs will correct trade distortions, guaranteeing fair conditions of competition for national producers against unfair practices and external subsidy policies, as well as aligning tariff policy with a vision of sustainable and regional development."
He added that the country “must take advantage of the domestic market” to help balance foreign trade, which should mean “a solid, diversified, and socially inclusive national industrialization.” They anticipate that the US will harden its stance in the USMCA review.
He explained that the review process of the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) is approaching, which could mean a hardening of the US discourse on energy, immigration and security issues.
He considered that this position could "eventually cloud the review process" of said agreement, so he stated that they have an interest in being key players and participating.
He explained that Index will hold its Board of Directors meetings in February and March in the cities of McAllen, Texas and Washington, which will allow them to strengthen a good relationship with congressmen and American counterparts, mainly on the issue of tariffs.
He stated that they intend to maintain “close communication with representatives of the Mexican and U.S. governments .” They added that the country's maquiladoras express their intention to maintain their investments in the country, support the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment, and generate more and better jobs.
According to the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade, 60% of the 1,463 tariff classifications , that is, around 876 classifications, are inputs, which according to some sources in the assembly industry affects manufacturing.
Source: Universal, E. (2026, 6 enero). Maquiladores prevén endurecimiento de EU en revisión T-MEC. Vanguardia. https://vanguardia.com.mx/dinero/maquiladores-preven-endurecimiento-de-eu-en-revision-t-mec-GE18851340
