A new uncertainty is looming in the trucking sector : increased tariffs on vehicles imported from countries without a trade agreement, with a particular impact on those from China, could also have an impact on the heavy-duty market, according to specialists.
The proposal, included in the 2026 Economic Package and announced by Marcelo Ebrard, head of the Ministry of Economy (SE) , comes at a time when companies are facing rising costs, competitive challenges, and pressure to renew their fleets.
The initiative proposes reforming various tariff sections of the Tariff Schedule of the General Import Tax Law , the purpose of which is to increase the most-favored-nation tariffs applicable to the import of various goods, including auto parts and vehicles, explained Luis Miguel Jiménez, partner in the International Trade practice at the law firm Von Wobeser y Sierra .
For auto parts, tariffs are expected to range from 10% to 50% of the customs value, while for vehicles the tariff would be 50%.
“Only those products whose tariff fraction is listed in the proposed modification would be affected,” he told T21.
The list includes three sensitive items: auto parts, finished vehicles, and raw materials. Within this framework, utility vehicles and heavy trucks will not be taxed in this first package , which represents a respite for the auto transport industry, commented Alberto Bustamante, general director of the National Agency of Suppliers of the Automotive Sector (ANAPSA) .
Impacts to come
The consequences would be far-reaching. Vehicles and auto parts from countries without a trade agreement with Mexico would become more expensive, as the tariff increase would be passed directly on to consumers, explained Luis Miguel Jiménez.
The scenario could be even more drastic for Asian-origin units , which would lose competitiveness or even exit the market, reducing the diversity of available options and affecting the quality-price ratio. In this context, used cars would gain ground, also pushing up their values, he emphasized.
Furthermore, in the aftermarket, 85% of the auto parts consumed in Mexico come from China , which is necessary to keep a fleet of 85 million vehicles on the road , according to Alberto Bustamante. Since there is insufficient local production capacity, imposing a tariff on these parts without industry consensus would directly affect the availability of spare parts in the country , he noted.
Fractions included in the proposal
The measure’s purpose goes beyond revenue collection. According to the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) , the implementation of the new tariffs would generate 255 billion pesos in 2026 , which would represent 97 billion pesos more than expected this year in import revenue.
The goal, explained Marcelo Ebrard, is to curb the entry of products below reference prices and protect approximately 320,000 jobs linked to the automotive industry .
The debate is taking place in an international environment marked by trade tensions. The World Trade Organization (WTO) requires the same rate to be applied to all countries without a free trade agreement, while in the United States, President Donald Trump has insisted that his partners in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) raise barriers against Asian products.
With Morena’s legislative majority, approval in the Union Congress seems assured, and if approved, the new tariffs would take effect 30 days after their publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation.
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