The National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex) celebrated the publication of the draft of the First Amendment to Annex 29 of the General Rules of Foreign Trade 2026 to strengthen the traceability of the sector and prevent smuggling from continuing to wreak havoc on this industry.

In an interview with T21, Rafael Torre Lamuño, president of Canaintex, explained that after the 2024 decree that prohibited certain finished products, smuggling migrated to bonded warehouses, where imports grew by 600 percent.

In that regard, he detailed the seriousness of the previous situation and the importance of the new regulations issued by the tax and customs authorities in the current fiscal year.

“The misuse of the regime in Strategic Fiscal Zones (RFE) presents a significant risk to sensitive sectors, such as textiles, due to the difficulties in tracing goods upon their release from customs. Additionally, not all inputs entering the RFE were processed and exported: some were diverted to the domestic market irregularly, to the detriment of formal industry and tax revenue,” Torre Lamuño stated.

The official document establishes the exclusion of textile goods from temporary import regimes, bonded warehouses, and RFE (Regional Export Regimes) to prevent irregular entry. This measure responds to the fact that the misuse of these schemes allowed finished products to enter the country without fulfilling tax obligations , directly affecting domestic businesses in the sector.

Regarding the future operation of the venues, Torre Lamuño considered that the private sector maintains a constant technical dialogue with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) and the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) .

The current strategy seeks to implement data science and technological tools in ports such as Lázaro Cárdenas and Manzanillo to detect suspicious shipments before they arrive in the country. The agency maintains that these oversight measures are necessary to ensure a level playing field among competitors and eliminate practices that undermine the rule of law.

Torre Lamuño emphasized that, although progress has been made, continued work on predictive data analysis is necessary to mitigate the smuggling that still persists along the country’s northern land borders. To achieve effective surveillance, Canaintex reiterated its commitment to collaborating with the federal government.

The head of the organization added that the outlook for the sector in 2026 is positive, estimating that the second half of 2026 will be one of the best periods for textile manufacturing due to the market recovery . He also pointed out that the combination of new domestic content regulations and the digitalization of customs will help boost the industry’s competitiveness in the short term.

The Mexican textile industry creates more than 1.1 million jobs and generates the highest added value of any manufacturing sector in the country, with 37.6% national content in its exports, according to data from Canaintex.

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El cargo Canaintex supports new rules to strengthen textile traceability in the face of irregular practices apareció primero en T21.

Upon assuming the presidency of the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex) , Rafael Torre Lamuño set a clear path for the sector: legality and the recovery of competitiveness will be the priorities, always under the “Made in Mexico” seal .

During the IX National Meeting of the fiber-textile-clothing-footwear chain, Torre Lamuño made it clear that his administration will not be one of continuity, but of transformation.

“We are not here to manage inertia, we are here to recover competitiveness, to demand a level playing field and to place the national textile industry back in the strategic place it deserves within the Mexican economy,” emphasized the director of the Providencia Textile Group.

In his speech, he indicated that the goal is not protectionism, but rather a market where the rule of law is respected so that businesses can generate more employment.

Ahead of the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , scheduled for July 1, he stressed that this process should be an opportunity to curb unfair practices from other regions , especially Asia, and consolidate Mexico as the most reliable supplier in North America.

Torre Lamuño’s work plan is structured around four pillars: combating smuggling and illegal trade practices, reactivating the domestic market through the  Mexico Plan , strengthening regional integration – by assisting in the review of the USMCA – and promoting innovation, sustainability and formal employment.

For his part, Alejandro Malagón, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , stressed the importance of the textile industry in job creation and the country’s economic growth.

“Few industries are as closely linked to employment as the textile industry; its value chain is a sector that strongly impacts the regional economy and national content . Its work generates opportunities for progress because it means income for thousands of families and provides them with stability and, above all, prosperity. Therefore, the challenges of the sector are the challenges of the industry, its priorities are our priorities,” he emphasized.

Amendment to Annex 29, a respite for the sector

During his speech, Rafael Marín Mollinedo, head of the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) , announced that authorities will meet to discuss the modification of Annex 29 of the General Rules of Foreign Trade , so that the handling of textiles and footwear is not allowed in the Strategic Fiscal Premises (RFE).

According to the textile and footwear industry, under this regime textile imports are made, but they are not exported again, so they remain in the country without paying taxes. It’s worth noting that the federal government issued a decree in December 2024 to curb temporary imports of textiles, clothing, and footwear.

In an interview with T21, Torre Lamuño explained that, after the decree, the entry of illegal merchandise into the country skyrocketed “ more than 850% from 2024 to 2025” .

“ When the decree was issued, which ended temporary imports of finished products, we were very happy and a large part of the imports migrated to Strategic Fiscalized Areas or through these areas ,” he said.

He also indicated that smuggling and the entry of illegal products have put pressure on the market , placing merchandise below a fair price and limiting the ability of domestic producers to compete.

Torre Lamuño called for unity within the production chain and for the support of the authorities to restore the sector’s importance in the Mexican economy.

“We are here to restore the competitiveness of the industry and take it to its rightful place with Mexican hands, a Mexican heart and ‘Made in Mexico’,” he concluded.

According to Canaintex, from January to September 2025, total exports amounted to five billion 561 million dollars; 92% of textile and garment products were destined for the United States, reflecting the importance of this sector for foreign trade.

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At the inauguration, Rafael Zaga Saba , president of Canaintex, emphasized that the Mexican textile industry “is not a minor industry, but a force that transforms national raw materials into value, identity and future for more than one million Mexican families.”

The business leader warned that the sector is facing one of the most challenging periods in its recent history, with 10 consecutive quarters of declining textile manufacturing, job losses, and reduced production capacity. Even so, he insisted that it is a vibrant, strong industry with a future, generating more than 1.1 million jobs.

“We refuse to be a sector that only manufactures or labels. Behind every thread, every fabric, and every garment there is history, talent, and commitment to this country,” Zaga Saba emphasized.

A call to consume products made in Mexico

During his speech, the president of Canaintex urged consumers to “turn the label over” and choose products made in Mexico, as an act of trust and support for the national economy. He also asked manufacturers to strengthen their use of domestically produced cotton, fibers, yarns, and fabrics, and to maintain their production chains with strategic partners in the region.

“The recovery will not come from outside, but from the sum of our own decisions,” he emphasized.

Zaga Saba warned that smuggling and the misuse of programs continue to undermine fair competition within the sector, although he acknowledged the federal government’s efforts to close loopholes for illegal activity. He celebrated the approval of the new Customs Law, which excludes Strategic Bonded Warehouses in sensitive sectors, a measure that “ marks the beginning of a fairer and more transparent environment .”

He also highlighted the stance of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has reiterated that smuggling will not be tolerated and that the country must prioritize national content and import substitution.

The president of Canaintex urged manufacturers to work together with the Federal Government to eradicate bad trade practices and strengthen the domestic market, as a key strategy in the face of the 3.8% drop in manufacturing GDP in the second quarter of 2025.

“With joint actions by the government, industry, and businesses, the landscape of the value chain can change. Strengthening public finances and improving conditions for honest entrepreneurs is a win-win for Mexico,” he stated.

Zaga Saba concluded her remarks by highlighting that the textile industry is the most integrated in the country, “the one that is born in the countryside and proudly reaches the shop window,” and acknowledged that both President Claudia Sheinbaum and Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard “see ‘Made in Mexico’ not as a slogan, but as a vision for the country.”

“When this industry unites, Mexico becomes stronger. We have reasons to believe, reasons to unite, and the strength to build the future our industry deserves,” he said.

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El cargo Mexican textile industry calls for strengthening domestic consumption and combating smuggling apareció primero en T21.

This action was the second operation that the SE has carried out as part of Operation Cleanup, this time in the states of Baja California (four IMMEX programs) and Jalisco (one program).

The measure seeks to protect the national industry and prevent the misuse of tax benefits, according to the federal agency headed by Marcelo Ebrard.

“In total, the evasion detected in this and the first phase of the operation amounts to 24 billion pesos in simulated temporary imports, which seriously affects the national industry and the Public Treasury,” Márquez Sánchez said at a press conference.

Leading industrial sector representatives present at the press conference agreed on the need to strengthen customs controls and tighten rulesto prevent abuses in foreign trade.

Alejandro Malagón Barragán, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States (Concamin) , stressed the importance of the federal government’s strategy to curb unfair competition.

“If we, through the president and the Secretary of Economy, implement Plan Mexico to halt imports and increase production, what we’re seeing is customs becoming the most important link in the chain for national production,” the industrial leader asserted.

From the footwear sector, Juan Carlos Cashat Usabiaga, president of the National Chamber of the Footwear Industry (Canaical) , recognized the efforts of the Mexican government and warned about the impact of uncontrolled imports.

“In recent years, we’ve seen footwear imports under the IMMEX program skyrocket, rising from 3.7 million to more than 40 million pairs by 2024. The problem isn’t just the volume, but that much of this footwear enters without complying with regulations and is illegally traded in the domestic market, affecting thousands of formal jobs,” he stated.

Márquez Sánchez, from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, also announced that the government is working on a strategy based on new technologies to improve the oversight of import and export processes.

The goal of this initiative is to ensure that the benefits of development programs reach only those who comply with regulations and operate within the legal framework.

“Our approach is to protect the national industry without considering external factors as determining factors. The priority is to ensure that commercial activity remains within a legal and transparent environment,” said Márquez Sánchez.

Textile industry, a battle against illegality

José Pablo Maauad Pontón, president of the National Chamber of the Clothing Industry (Canaive) , stressed that these measures send a clear message about the importance of compliance with the law .

“For years, we have called for firm action against these illegal practices. The current administration has demonstrated a real will to enforce the rules and protect the industry. Legality in foreign trade is key to job creation and national growth,” he said.

Along the same lines, Rafael Zaga Saba, president of the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex) , emphasized the need to eradicate unfair competition.

“We’ve had eight negative quarters in the textile industry, and that’s largely due to these fraudulent practices. Mexico is highly competitive and can produce world-class textiles, but we need a market where everyone competes on a level playing field. We applaud this government effort and hope it continues,” he said.

The Director of Trade Facilitation announced that operations will continue in other key sectors, such as steel and aluminum , and that work is underway to disqualify the shareholders and partners of the sanctioned companies to prevent them from operating under new registrations.

“The IMMEX program’s beneficiary registry includes approximately 6,000 companies, and although not all of them operate fraudulently, we will continue to collaborate with the industry and the SAT to identify those who abuse the system,” explained Márquez Sánchez.

With these actions, the government reaffirms its commitment to strengthening national industry, protecting jobs, and eradicating unfair trade practices.

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El cargo The textile industry supports the cancellation of IMMEX programs for companies in Jalisco and Baja California. apareció primero en T21.

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) , the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex) and the Canadian Textile Industry Association (CTIA) issued a joint statement urging US President Donald Trump to reach an agreement with Mexico and Canada to avoid imposing 25% tariffs on imports from these countries and close the de minimis loophole.

The textile associations emphasized that “our three countries are partners in a vital textile and apparel co-production chain that generates $20 billion in two-way trade and helps support more than 1.6 million jobs under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal that was negotiated during President Trump’s first term.”

In a statement, the associations explained that the U.S. textile industry sends $12.3 billion , or 53% of its total global textile exports, to Mexico and Canada, inputs that return as finished products to the United States under the USMCA.

Mexico exports nine billion dollars in textiles and clothing to the United States, the fourth largest exporter of textiles and the sixth largest exporter of clothing to that country.

Canada exports approximately $1.8 billion worth of textiles and apparel to the United States and Mexico, with the United States accounting for 64% of its total global textile exports, including high-quality fire-resistant materials and medical equipment.

“While we fully support President Trump’s efforts to curb illegal migration as quickly as possible, we urge the administration to refrain from imposing punitive tariffs on imports from USMCA partners. We are focused on ensuring a normalized trade relationship between our countries,” said Kim Glas , President and CEO of NCTO.

He also stressed that imposing tariffs on imports from critical USMCA partners will only benefit China and other Asian countries that do not comply with the rules and will harm the US textile industry.

On the other hand, Glas pointed out that the industry is also asking Trump to end the de minimis tariff exemption for imports from all countries.

“This loophole in U.S. trade law, which allows imports valued at $800 or less to enter the United States duty-free, hurts our textile and apparel industries, benefits countries like China, and helps facilitate the flow of illegal goods ,” he said.

For his part, Rafael Zaga Saba, president of Canaintex, said that despite the measures adopted by countries to avoid the importation of undervalued goods, manufactured with forced labor or transshipped , they have seen firsthand how the Asian market has obtained an unfair advantage through predatory trade practices, displacing companies and workers.

“Canada seeks to preserve our strong co-production chain with Mexico and the United States, which stimulates investment, trade and employment in all three of our countries,” said Jeff Ayoub, chairman of the CTIA board of directors.

The associations jointly added that they look forward to working closely with the Trump administration and continuing to educate officials on the adverse impact of penalty tariffs on imports from Western Hemisphere countries and de minimis tariffs on these industries and workers, while highlighting the critical nature of the strong co-production chain, which contributes to overall investment, job growth and economic stability.

Since Trump unveiled plans to slap tariffs on all three countries in late January, the Mexican and Canadian governments have been working to defuse tensions and persuade Trump that they have been working to police their borders.

It is worth remembering that the US government is expected to make a decision on March 4 regarding the 25% tariffs on its USMCA trading partners.

In response, textile associations said that additional tariffs on the country’s three most important trading partners would only increase the economic tension that has begun to emerge from Trump’s wave of actions.

Companies that import auto parts, medical devices, produce and clothing to the United States are once again grappling with how to absorb the added costs.

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For some time now, the Mexican textile industry has been making efforts to ensure that the country has a “level playing field” with respect to foreign companies that sell undervalued products through temporary imports. Therefore, the decree to increase tariffs on manufactured goods by 35% and on textile imports by 15% represents support for their needs that will strengthen regional supply chains.

Rafael Zaga Saba, president of the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex) , highlighted in a press conference that a decade ago the textile industry represented 3.6% of the GDP; however, today this percentage has been reduced to 1.8 percent.

He also stressed that more than 70,000 jobs have been lost in the industry over the past two years, and he hopes that, with this presidential measure, jobs will gradually begin to recover, in addition to an improvement in employment.

In this regard, Canaintex acknowledged Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, and the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, for having listened to their requests in just three months of management.

For his part, Sergio Contreras Pérez, executive president of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) , said that this “ is not a protectionist policy, it is a way of limiting ”, since the way of introducing this type of products to the country was left aside.

“We have had the need to review the sensitive issue of tariffs in a new strategy. Mexico does not have a great impact on the relationship with China like other countries. So perhaps we have stopped reviewing what the relationship with China should be, it is a way of reviewing the openness we have, and limiting it,” he said.

The other side of the coin

On the other hand, Logística de México (LDM) , a logistics consulting firm, acknowledged that although the measure is aimed at protecting the national industry, it will have a profound impact on the country’s logistics chain.

In this regard, he indicated that this will bring with it a considerable increase in operating costs that will affect both logistics companies and end consumers.

“The implementation of new tariffs on textiles represents a structural change for logistics in Mexico. Companies face the challenge of adapting their processes in an environment where operating costs will increase significantly. This involves redesigning transport routes, training personnel in more complex customs procedures and optimizing supply chains to reduce the financial impact on end consumers and businesses,” said José Ambe, CEO of LDM.

Among the most significant effects is the increase in import costs, since this measure could generate an annual additional cost of 1.5 billion dollars (mdd) in imports.

In addition, logistics costs, including transportation and storage, will also increase, with freight rates potentially rising by 5% to 10% , adding up to approximately $500 million annually in additional costs due to additional procedures and customs delays.

Other effects foreseen by LDM include high complexity in customs procedures, delays in delivery times, as well as an adjustment in the way companies plan their inventories.

Therefore, the impact of these new tariffs will translate into a total increase in operating costs of close to two billion dollars annually .

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El cargo Textile Industry Welcomes Tariff Hike on Imports; Will Logistics Costs Rise? apareció primero en T21.

The textile industry in Mexico began in 1837 with four factories in Puebla, and by 1844 there were 47 factories nationwide. However, it was not until 100 years later, in 1937, that a business representation organization defending the interests of the industry was formed, giving birth to the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex), highlighted its president, Rafael Zaga Saba.

On the occasion of its 87th anniversary, Canaintex presented the document “Understanding the Textile and Clothing Industry 2024,” prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), which highlights that from 2003 to 2023, the number of establishments in this industry in the country grew by 156.8%, reflecting in jobs.

“Currently, our country has companies dedicated to the production of threads, fabrics, textiles, and finished products, among other sectors related to the production chain. This anniversary is a significant event reflecting the importance and impact of our industry. Let’s continue spinning stories and dressing Mexico and the world,” said Zaga Saba.

To give an idea of the importance of the textile and clothing industry, this sector had a positive impact on 60 out of 78 activities of the national economy or subsectors, generating employment and income in industries such as agriculture, chemistry, machinery, and equipment, among others.

According to Inegi, the textile and clothing industry has been mainly made up of micro-establishments employing up to 10 people, with 95.6% of the total, which generated only 5.7% of production.

In contrast, medium-sized establishments, with 51 to 250 people, represent 1.1% of the total, and large ones, employing 251 or more people, concentrated 56.3% of the employed personnel and 82.6% of the gross production.

Furthermore, the textile industry has integrated national supply chains, as for every 100 pesos of inputs used, 55.5 pesos came from national sources.

On the other hand, the document indicates that although in 1993 the textile industry represented 5.6% of Mexico’s manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP), reaching its highest representation in recent years, today the industry represents 1.9%, with data as of the end of 2023.

Additionally, it provides an overview of the textile industry’s GDP, which had an average growth of 6.5% between 1995 and 2000, thanks to the impact of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Canada.

However, the institute stated that this changed starting in 2001 when China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), with a drop in the textile GDP from 131 billion pesos (mdp) to 115.75 billion mdp. In 2023, the GDP of the textile and clothing industry decreased by 8.4 percent.

Regarding production, in 2018, 65.6% of the total gross production was concentrated in the State of Mexico, Puebla, Mexico City, Hidalgo, Guanajuato, and Coahuila.

On the other hand, exports from this industry increased by 2.1% from 2022 to 2023, going from nine billion 100 million dollars (mdd) to nine billion 300 million mdd, while imports decreased by 1.7%, going from 13 billion 500 million mdd to 13 billion 300 million mdd.

The participation of the textile and clothing industry in the country’s manufacturing exports in the last three years was 1.8%, with this industry allocating 89.4% of its exports to the United States.

The main countries of origin of imports of products from the textile and clothing industry were China, with 35.4%, and the United States, with 24.6%.

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