In view of possible protectionist policies of the incoming United States government, which will be headed by Donald Trump , such as the imposition of tariffs on products from other countries, the International Chamber of Commerce Mexico (ICC Mexico) proposed various strategies to strengthen the trilateral trade relationship in the review of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) , which will take place in 2026.
In this regard, the organization reaffirmed its commitment to the Government of Mexico to provide technical support in this review , “in order to strengthen the country’s competitiveness and ensure fairer and more favorable trade conditions for all sectors of the Mexican economy.”
He noted that the election results in the United States have changed the outlook for international trade, as the Trump administration could continue to promote protectionist policies, which would put at risk trade relations between Mexico and its main partners in North America.
This, he said, would generate some tensions, such as tariffs on Mexican and other countries’ products . In addition, protectionist policies could affect transnational supply chains , and immigration policies, although not part of the review, would cause a climate of uncertainty.
In this context, ICC Mexico considered that the review of the T-MEC should address these issues with a pragmatic and proactive approach , proposing to strengthen the country’s competitiveness.
In this regard, he proposed encouraging investment in key sectors , from advanced manufacturing to technology, so that Mexico can strengthen its sectors with the highest added value, with a view to becoming a regional and global leader.
“ICC Mexico suggests exploring joint initiatives with the United States and Canada in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, renewable energy and biotechnology, to ensure the creation of more robust and resilient supply chains,” said the organization, which also proposed training the Mexican workforce in high value-added sectors.
He also suggested that Mexico should seek new markets so that it no longer depends on a single trading partner, although without losing its position in the US market, which will be achieved by exploring agreements with other regions , such as the European Union, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, among others, as well as taking advantage of multilateral treaties.
Another proposal is to ensure the stability of the North American supply chain , for which Mexico must guarantee preferential access to key inputs for manufacturing, and strengthen cooperation in cross-border logistics , with a focus on the modernization of ports, customs and railway networks.
He also suggested protecting labor rights and the environment by promoting equity and sustainable development. He also proposed strengthening Mexico’s international image through our country’s participation in international forums, as well as defending the principles of free trade within the USMCA and in its relations with other countries.
“The USMCA is much more than a trade agreement, it is a platform for growth and collaboration. We must use this opportunity to ensure that Mexico continues to be a trusted strategic partner, not only for the United States and Canada, but for the entire world,” said Claus von Wobeser , President of ICC Mexico.
These proposals follow threats by the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada , which would affect various productive industries in the country and cause an increase in the costs of exporting Mexican products to our northern neighbor.
In this regard, the current US president, Joe Biden , warned that the imposition of tariffs on Mexico and Canada is a “serious mistake” since it would affect consumers in his country.
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