Cali-Baja is a region nestled between two countries that share a comprehensive vision that has helped consolidate it as one of the most important areas for the reconfiguration of supply chains in North America , and this Thursday, May 14, will be the subject of analysis at the second edition of  ETYL Cali-Baja (Transport and Logistics Meeting) , which will take place in the border city of Tijuana, Baja California.

Based in northwestern Mexico, ETYL Cali-Baja 2026 is a key platform for dialogue on logistics networks, cross-border transport, supply chain integration and other relevant industry issues.

The Cali-Baja region, made up of the counties of San Diego and Imperial, in the United States, and Baja California, in Mexico, has positioned itself as one of the most strategic in trade.

In March 2026 alone, trade between the United States and Mexico reached a milestone, with  $83.9786 billion in merchandise exchanged , representing an 8.6% year-over-year growth rate, according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau . Much of this trade was transported by land, across the border between California (San Diego) and Baja California (Tijuana)—where peak traffic exceeds 4,700 trucks per day.

In this context, the second edition of  ETYL Cali-Baja 2026 , a forum organized by  Grupo T21 , brings together industry leaders at the Real Inn Hotel in Tijuana , where there will also be a networking session to share success stories in transportation, logistics and industry, with the aim of boosting competitiveness and innovation in the region.

The ETYL Cali-Baja 2026 program presents a robust and diverse agenda, with panels on current logistics, such as the one on  Logistics Chains that are Redefining Cali-Baja , which will address the role of the region in the new binational logistics map: manufacturing, trade, distribution, nearshoring (relocation of production lines), logistics services and new market demands.

The panel will include Jorge Medina Armienta, CEO of Transpoint ; Bertha Martínez, coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degree in International Logistics at  CETYS University Campus Mexicali ; Rosa Castañeda, president of Baja’s Medical Device Cluster ; and Tomás Sibaja, president of the Baja California Aerospace Cluster .

In the panel  “Challenges and Opportunities of Maritime and Port Connectivity ,” Osiel Cruz, CEO of Grupo T21; Fidel Murillo, Operations Manager of the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Ensenada ; Ollincuauhtli Méndez Ramírez, EIT Manager of Hutchison Ports Mexico ; Israel Delgado, CEO of Express Service Transport Inc .; José Cobos, Sales & Marketing Director of MSC ; and Francisco Espinoza, Commercial Manager of Internaves de México, will analyze the role of ports, maritime connectivity, intermodal services, and opportunities to strengthen the logistical integration of the Cali-Baja region.

Key topics for improved cross-border logistics  will be another panel at ETYL Cali-Baja 2026. This panel will focus on the factors that impact cross-border operations: time, processes, infrastructure, documentation, coordination between stakeholders, and best practices to reduce logistical friction.

This discussion will be led by Marco Bañuelos, specialist in Automotive Supply Chain; Juan Báez, CEO of Bali Express Services ; Alfonso Millán, delegate of Rosarito, Tecate and Tijuana of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) ; and Carlos Ochoa, executive director of Supplier Compliance Audit Network (SCAN) Association .

The panel Customs, compliance and risks in increasingly demanding borders will focus on the challenges of compliance, risk management, traceability, security, documentation and customs coordination in highly demanding cross-border operations.

Héctor Landeros, partner at HXLA Customs & Trade ; Jacinto Romero, general director of the Romero Galaviz Customs Agency ; Alfonso Esquer Millán, regional vice president for the northwest of Canacar; Adrián Salinas Rangel, VP Enterprise Sales Intermodal at STG Logistics ; and Gabriela Fernández, Trade & Logistics Manager at TACNA Services , will develop this dialogue table.

Thus, the second edition of ETYL Cali-Baja, backed by the track record of Grupo T21, stands out not only for its specialized content, but also for its practical approach and  direct connection between actors in the sector , including networking spaces and activities for the exchange of experiences between industry professionals.

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El cargo Second edition of ETYL Cali-Baja kicks off in Tijuana apareció primero en T21.

In Mexico, there persists a curious tendency to build state-owned ports that aspire to compete with established giants. It’s as if the mere construction of a pier could challenge decades of operation, connectivity, and institutional learning. Punta Colonet aims to rival Ensenada, while Matamoros presents itself as an alternative to Altamira . Both projects promise to reshape the logistics landscape, but they also highlight the gap between political ambition and the system’s actual capacity to sustain complex port models in underdeveloped regions.

In Baja California, José Saúl de los Santos, Director General of the Baja California Port Authority and Undersecretary of Economic Planning for the state , argued that port development cannot be understood without the state’s economic reconfiguration. Speaking at the 29th Annual Congress of Shipping Agents, organized by the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) , he noted that “more than 90% of Baja California’s economic activity is concentrated along the border,” and therefore the government seeks to decentralize economic activity and revitalize historically marginalized areas. From Ojos Negros to San Quintín, the goal is to establish a regional logistics system supported by underutilized airports, highways, a future railway, and production hubs that will pave the way for the revitalization of Punta Colonet.

The project, which has already seen decades of failed attempts, reached a turning point in September 2025 with the granting of the concession title by the Mexican Navy . De los Santos described it as “a very important milestone,” comparable to the approval of the Environmental Impact Statement a year earlier. The legal structure also changed: now APIBC—the majority state-owned company created to manage the project— is seeking partnerships with private companies to avoid indebting the government and to share the risk of a project planned in three phases that, according to the technical presentation, could handle up to 4.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually.

The plan’s figures are monumental: a 2,769-hectare site, 323 hectares of reclaimed land, 17.5-meter-wide access channels, 15 berths, and terminals for containers, liquids, mineral bulk, energy, and multipurpose cargo. Added to this is a 310-kilometer rail line that would cross into Arizona to connect with the Mexican and U.S. rail networks . “We’re talking about a decade to develop the port,” said De los Santos, although he projected starting operations in 2029, always subject to the Master Plan, which will be ready by the end of 2025.

The energy environment is key . Baja California, historically vulnerable, now boasts a surplus thanks to the Puerto Peñasco photovoltaic park and new gas pipelines that will allow the export of natural gas and hydrogen from Colonet. There are also water projects worth more than 24 billion pesos, reinforcing the narrative of an ecosystem capable of sustaining a mega industrial and port project without repeating past mistakes. The central message was clear: the state wants private investment that believes in a long-term vision, even if the results extend beyond the current administration.

But the inevitable question remains: can a port be successful from the start without a market demanding it from day one? Colonet aims to capture a share of the more than 30 million TEUs arriving from Asia to the northwestern United States. However, competing with the traffic anchored in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Ensenada requires more than just good maps: it demands reliability, governance, and costs that only time will validate. The risk, as with any megaproject, is that the infrastructure will advance faster than the cargo volume .

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El cargo The new contenders on the port map: between state ambition and market reality apareció primero en T21.

Mexican industry, particularly in key regions like Baja California, faces a complex outlook due to the imposition of tariffs and global economic uncertainty, although companies in the area are seeking to take advantage of their location to strengthen the logistics sector and exports to the United States.

José Luis Contreras Valenzuela , president of the Association of Industrialists of the Otay Mesa (AIMO) , who was reelected last February for the 2025-2027 period, said that the tariffs promoted by the United States have resulted in uncertainty that directly affects investment decisions .

The lack of clarity regarding trade policies has led companies to postpone projects and reevaluate strategies. This uncertainty not only hinders growth but also limits industries’ ability to plan for the long term.

The steel and aluminum sectors , and more recently, copper, have been particularly affected. Essential metal inputs for the production of finished goods have made industrial processes more expensive, the AIMO president noted in an interview with T21.

He explained that this has forced companies to seek alternatives, such as relocating production areas or exploring new markets to minimize the impact of additional costs.

According to a report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) , tariffs imposed by the United States on Mexican products, such as steel and aluminum, with a 50% tax, have increased production costs by 10% to 15% for manufacturing industries in Mexico.

Windows of opportunity and diversification

Contreras emphasized that, in response to these challenges, businesses in Tijuana and throughout the state are seeking “windows of opportunity” within the framework of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) .

This includes diversifying and expanding markets  and focusing on sectors less affected by tariffs; however, the lack of a government support program has limited these initiatives, he explained.

“The unfortunate thing here is that industrial activity is moving on the sidelines, because while it’s true that the federal government announces that it has a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C, we ourselves don’t know anything more than what’s been announced in the media,” Contreras emphasized.

To mitigate some of the tariff impact, Baja California’s industrial sector is exploring niche markets in high-tech industries , such as medical devices, microprocessors, and robotics . These sectors represent growth opportunities. However, the AIMO president specified that the development of these areas requires a public policy environment that encourages investment.

The lack of a clear public policy and investment incentives represents a significant obstacle. Contreras believes that recent labor reforms, including the reduction of the working week from 48 to 40 hours, were designed without the consensus of the productive sector.

According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) , Baja California lost approximately 27,000 jobs in the industrial sector between April and June 2025, although a partial recovery has been observed. This figure was confirmed by José Luis Contreras.

Geographical location, an advantage

Despite the challenges, the private sector in Tijuana and the other municipalities that make up Baja California has shown resilience. Some companies have managed to diversify and expand their operations, especially in the logistics sector , taking advantage of the region’s strategic geographic location as a gateway to the U.S. market.

This competitive advantage, according to Contreras, is a key factor that no one can take away from the region, even in times of uncertainty.

However, the impact of tariffs is not limited to direct costs. The contraction in demand in the United States, the main market for Mexican products, has reduced the need for commodities , indirectly affecting local industries.

Another affected sector is agriculture , particularly tomato producers in San Quintín—a town known for its fishing and agricultural activities—who face tariffs that make their products more expensive in the U.S. market.

It’s worth remembering that on July 14, the United States government imposed a 17.09% tariff on Mexican tomato exports, arguing that it was protecting American producers and accusing Mexican producers of dumping —exporting products at a lower price than they are sold in their domestic market.

Contreras noted that while these costs are borne by U.S. consumers, tariff policies are harming the competitiveness of Mexican producers , which could have long-term repercussions for the sector.

The lack of an official public policy program to counter the effects of tariffs is a recurring concern, he emphasized, adding that this hampers companies’ strategic planning and reinforces the perception that the private sector must assume the responsibility for adaptation.

Despite these challenges, José Luis Contreras remains optimistic about the industrial sector’s ability to overcome these obstacles, provided trade policies are not over-extended and the USMCA agreements are respected.

The U.S. government’s 90-day extension of the 30% tariff on Mexico, while seen as an opportunity to prepare for a complex economic environment, also creates additional pressure, as it “does not offer long-term certainty.”

“We’ll see what new developments the U.S. government comes up with in 90 days. But what we do know is that without certainty, there is no investment, and without investment, no industry can sustain itself,” he noted.

The AIMO president emphasized the importance of certainty as a key factor in attracting and retaining investment, since in the context of political and economic uncertainty, capital seeks markets with greater stability and profitability.

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El cargo Tariffs, uncertainty, and industrial reinvention in Baja California apareció primero en T21.

Baja California has established itself as a fundamental pillar of Mexico ‘s economic development . Through a combination of foreign investment, growth in the manufacturing industry, and sustainable efforts, the region has demonstrated its ability to attract capital and foster progress.

According to data from the Baja California Secretariat of Economy and Innovation , the economic impact generated in the state between January 2024 and January 2025 reached 263,072 million pesos (mdp) , strengthening various productive areas.

One of the key factors in this growth has been the export manufacturing industry, in which Baja California continues to stand out as a leader.

Likewise, organizations such as Index Zona Costa Baja California have boosted the state’s competitiveness, ensuring that more than 150 projects from the national investment portfolio are concentrated in the region.

Foreign direct investment has also been instrumental in strengthening the state’s economy. In 2024, the state received $2.4385 billion in foreign investment, with the United States as its main trading partner, contributing $1.650 billion . The manufacturing industry accounted for 72.34% of these resources, according to the state’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation.

The phenomenon of relocating production lines in Mexico, known as nearshoring , has been another key element in the state’s growth, attracting between $ 500 million and $1 billion in foreign direct investment by 2023 .

The Port of Ensenada has emerged as a strategic point within this process, thanks to its privileged location and developing infrastructure.

However, Ensenada ‘s port activity has faced challenges due to U.S. tariff policies. During the first quarter of 2025 , total cargo throughput at the port decreased by 14.3% year-over-year, impacting trade dynamics. Despite this, Baja California ‘s overall growth remains positive.

In the productive sector, national revenues from the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) have shown an upward trend, rising from 3,385.32 billion pesos in January 2024 to 4,550.2 billion pesos in January 2025 , supporting the state’s competitiveness and its ability to strengthen its export industry.

Additionally, in the third quarter of 2024, Baja California’s economically active population was 1.82 million people , with an unemployment rate of 2.72%, according to data from the federal Ministry of Economy .

Economic growth has also impacted the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) . In 2023 , Baja California recorded a GDP of 951.66 billion pesos , a 3.5% increase compared to 2022 , reflecting the dynamism and financial stability that has characterized the region in recent years, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) .

To continue consolidating its role in national development, Baja California will host the Transportation and Logistics Meeting (ETYL) CALI-BAJA 2025 , organized by Grupo T21, which will take place at the Grand Hotel Tijuana on May 14 and 15. To register, go to the page baja.etylmx.com/.

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El cargo Baja California: An expanding economic engine apareció primero en T21.

FedEx México , a logistics and express transportation company, signed a collaboration agreement with the Secretariat of Economic Development of Baja California with which it will offer solutions to those who require courier and parcel services for national and international shipments and aims to stimulate the economy of the state through its strategic support to increase productivity and expand the logistics network at its disposal, as well as stimulate trade and economic development of the entity.

El cargo FedEx México Signs Agreement with Baja California apareció primero en T21.