SAN PEDRO GARZA GARCÍA, NL.- North American manufacturing integration faces the challenge of adapting to a trade environment marked by protectionism, geopolitical tensions, and the need to strengthen the resilience of supply chains, without losing competitiveness compared to other regions of the world.
During the discussion “Manufacturing without borders: the future of North America” , Emilio Cadena, CEO of Prodensa , and Ildefonso Guajardo, former Secretary of Economy, agreed that the region must deepen its productive integration and take advantage of the review of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) to build new industrial opportunities.
During the 51st National Index Convention, hosted by the National Council of the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing Industry (Index Nacional) , Guajardo noted that the COVID-19 pandemic altered the perception of global supply chains, demonstrating that efficiency and cost reduction are insufficient when disruptions threaten supply. This was compounded by the incorporation of national security into trade decisions, which has driven greater regionalization of value chains.
“The pandemic taught us that the unexpected disruptions to value chains are so costly and so difficult that we have to delve into the resilience of these chains. And it changes our model for approaching traditional markets. The second element, which is significant here, is that today national security issues are part of trade decisions,” he emphasized.
In this context, he warned that North America must avoid a trade closure policy that limits its ability to compete globally. He argued that the USMCA should preserve regional integration and allow access to strategic inputs that are not yet produced in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
One of the main points raised was that Mexico should not be content with maintaining its role as an assembly platform, but neither should it jeopardize that activity. Guajardo argued that assembly must be defended because it concentrates employment and allows for interaction with engineering, design, and technological development areas, which are necessary to move toward higher value-added activities .
The former Secretary of Economy in the administration of Enrique Peña Nieto identified opportunities for Mexico in sectors such as electronics, computers, data center equipment and technological components, where there is still a significant dependence on Asian suppliers.
In his remarks, he questioned the possibility of imposing sweeping restrictions on imports from Asia, particularly China, arguing that there are components that North America is not yet capable of manufacturing competitively . Therefore, he proposed moving towards a smart import substitution strategy, without increasing production costs or weakening regional supply chains.
Cadena, in turn, emphasized the importance of preserving the manufacturing integration that has been built between the three countries and recognizing that the region’s competitiveness depends on the proximity between suppliers, manufacturing plants, and markets.
One of the risks for North America is focusing on reviving past industrial activities, instead of identifying where economic value will be generated in the coming decades. To address this, Guajardo added, it is necessary to foster new technological capabilities and greater collaboration between Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Another point addressed was the need to build agreements with sectors that maintain more protectionist positions, such as steel and textiles. In this regard, he noted that Mexico should use available trade mechanisms to address unfair practices, without resorting to measures that ultimately harm regional supply chains.
The discussion highlighted the importance of reviewing the USMCA, at a time when trade decisions are increasingly linked to US industrial policy and economic security.
The magnitude of this relationship is evident in trade figures. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , trade in goods between Mexico and the United States totaled $871.6 billion in 2025.
In this context, the panelists agreed that the future of North American manufacturing will depend not only on the trade conditions of the USMCA, but also on the ability of its members to develop suppliers, incorporate technology, and maintain competitive supply chains.
According to the discussions held, the opportunity for Mexico lies in strengthening its participation in these supply chains, without losing the manufacturing and assembly operations that currently underpin a large part of its trade relationship with its regional partners.
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