In order to protect the Mexican textile industry and prevent the abuse of current provisions, the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, signed a decree to increase tariffs on manufactured goods by 35% , as well as a 15% increase on the import of textile products .
This was announced by Marcelo Ebrard , head of the Ministry of Economy , during the morning press conference, who highlighted the importance and dynamism of this industry, which generates around 400 thousand jobs . The measures, he pointed out, will only apply to countries with which Mexico does not have trade agreements.
The federal official also pointed out as a second point the increase in the list of products that cannot be imported through the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) , which allows companies to temporarily import goods and machinery for the production, transformation or repair of export merchandise, and which were exempt from taxes.
“The goal is not to abuse this provision, because then it means that I can sell a finished product on the market without paying VAT, without paying Income Tax, without paying tariffs, and then my product is cheaper than that of a Mexican company established in any federal entity,” Marcelo Ebrard stressed.
Among the reasons for establishing such actions, he explained that in 2024 the national textile industry reached its lowest level of employment after losing 79 thousand jobs in recent years. He also said that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this sector fell 4.8% at an annual rate, equivalent to approximately 1,229 million pesos (mdp) .
He also recalled that since 2019, Mexico has been importing more than it exports, and noted that the increase in textile goods was 0.8 % and in clothing, 12.5 percent .
“Companies that are part of the IMMEX program, which imports parts or products that are not supposed to be finished, must return at least 80% of the merchandise they import, that is, you have to prove that you used it to finally export it or finish a process,” he added.
He said that these measures close “a door that left Mexican companies at a disadvantage, allowing the entry of finished products that evaded taxes and competed unfairly.” He explained that the objective is to encourage the development of this industry , promote employment and fair market conditions .
He also noted that the State of Mexico, Puebla, Hidalgo, Coahuila and Guanajuato are the main textile producers in Mexico, so they will benefit from the new policies.
In response to the media, the Secretary of Economy outlined some actions against technical smuggling , which is deceiving a request to the authority by indicating that it is a temporary import in order to evade taxes and tariffs. In this regard, Ebrard added that irregularities have already been identified in several customs agencies.
He pointed out that, as a sanction, seven customs agent patents have been revoked and said that actions against piracy are also being carried out, such as operations, to ensure more equal trade.
First plant to produce semiconductors to open in 2025
On another topic, Marcelo Ebrard announced that it is very likely that by 2025 our country will have the first Mexican-owned plant to produce semiconductors for the automotive sector and other production chains.
In his presentation, he also stated that investment portfolios have been developed for 2025 and that efforts have been made with the private sector in order to encourage them to invest and create synergy.
He also indicated that they are working with various industries , such as the automotive industry, where specific investments have been identified for next year, which will be in the area of suppliers, auto parts, and how to bring the production of batteries for electric vehicles closer to Mexico.
He noted that the investment portfolio is linked to the Mexico Plan , which is a “navigation chart” that seeks to strengthen the national production of different goods and services to reduce imports and achieve shared prosperity.
The federal official also denied that Mexico is producing Chinese cars under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (T-MEC) , as indicated by a study prepared by the United States, and also explained that there is Chinese investment in the country, although the rules of origin for exports are always monitored.
Regarding lithium , Ebrard indicated that the Sonora Plan is being consolidated to facilitate investments. In addition, the production of this chemical element is also being accelerated so that Mexico can begin to build batteries.
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