At a time of trade reconfiguration, tariff pressures , and the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , Mexican industry has taken a firm stance: competition is welcome, but with clear rules. This was stated by Alejandro Malagón Barragán, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , who warned that investment requires legal certainty and the rule of law to sustain productive growth.

Mexican industry generates 53% of formal employment , contributes 42% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and accounts for 90% of the country’s exports. Given this structural weight, the sector made it clear that it is not asking for privileges, but rather for the right conditions to compete in a global environment marked by trade tensions, tariff pressures, and the reconfiguration of production chains.

“Our industry is not asking for privileges, it is demanding conditions to compete, grow and prosper,” Malagón said.

The statement was made during the organization’s 108th Ordinary General Assembly , where Malagón began his last year at the head of the confederation and reiterated that investment requires the rule of law and legal certainty in a fragmented international scenario.

Business review and geopolitical environment

The review of the USMCA, scheduled for next July, was also part of the discussion. During his remarks, Senator Waldo Fernández González highlighted the level of economic integration between Mexico and the United States .

He acknowledged that there are outstanding issues, such as steel and aluminum, and maintained that the process will be handled responsibly. For the industrial sector, the review is not a political matter, but a strategic decision that could redefine competitive conditions.

For his part, Vidal Llerenas Morales, Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce of the Ministry of Economy (SE) , stressed that the country’s economic strength lies in its highly specialized manufacturing capacity.

He explained that the Mexico Plan includes a horizontal industrial policy, focused on stability, credit and education, and also a territorial one, through Economic Development Poles for Well-being that promote production chains in regions with less integration.

Alejandro Malagón insisted that consolidating implies scaling up what has been built: strengthening production chains, promoting national content and more strongly promoting the “Made in Mexico” label.

The industry leader also noted that growth must be sustainable and inclusive.

From the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) , Quiahuitl Chávez indicated that the discussion on reducing the work week to 40 hours has taken place in dialogue with the productive sector, emphasizing that productivity and social justice must advance together .

For her part, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, head of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) , noted that industry generates 25% of greenhouse gas emissions and called for progress on decarbonization and an emissions trading system. She also highlighted the unanimous approval of the General Law on Circular Economy.

With the review of the trilateral trade agreement on the horizon and a volatile international environment, Mexican industry reaffirmed its priority of maintaining competitiveness under clear rules and with an actionable industrial policy. The event provided the setting; the message was strategic.

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El cargo Concamin calls for certainty and clear rules ahead of USMCA review apareció primero en T21.

With the aim of anticipating the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities that will mark the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2026, the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) convened business leaders, specialists and representatives of strategic organizations at the meeting “Mexico on the path of USMCA review and the impact of tariffs” , held in Mexico City.

Through its USMCA Technical Strategy Committee, the organization opened a space for analysis on the North American trade environment, tariff risks, and the need for a coordinated stance between the private sector and government.

During the meeting, Sergio Contreras Pérez, CEO of COMCE, underscored the region’s strategic importance, noting that the USMCA represents approximately 30% of global GDP and $1.93 trillion in regional trade. In this context, he emphasized the importance of building a shared vision among Mexico, the United States, and Canada to expand the opportunities generated by more than three decades of economic integration.

The geopolitical dimension of the review was addressed by Roberta Jacobson, former U.S. ambassador and founding partner of Dinámica Américas, who warned that the process will be decisive for the region’s future. She noted that Mexico must rely on its institutional strengths to navigate a complex environment, while reaffirming its role as a key partner for U.S. global competitiveness.

From a bilateral perspective, Kenneth Smith Ramos, president of the Mexico-United States Bilateral Committee of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE), maintained that Mexico must stand firm against potential tariff pressures , noting that Mexico is the primary destination for U.S. exports. In this regard, he emphasized that technical preparedness and responsiveness will be decisive factors during the review of the trade agreement.

Sectoral analysis also played a central role. Juan Acra, president of the Mexican Energy Council , emphasized the urgent need for a regional policy that strengthens energy security and provides certainty for infrastructure investments. In the legal sphere, Mario Valencia, partner at Galicia Abogados , explained that the review of the USMCA will be a technical exercise focused on compliance with environmental, energy, and labor commitments.

In strategic industries, Antonio Ortiz Mena, president of the USMCA Committee of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE), noted that North America has the conditions to move toward self-sufficiency in steel and aluminum through greater trilateral coordination. Meanwhile, Armando Ortega, president of the Mexico-Canada Bilateral Committee, raised the opportunity to promote a chapter on critical minerals that would ensure the regional supply chain, key to the energy transition, artificial intelligence, and technologies related to national security.

The automotive sector reaffirmed Mexico’s position within the bloc. Francisco González Díaz, executive president of the National Auto Parts Industry (INA) , emphasized that the country remains an indispensable supplier for U.S. automakers , a strength that should be reflected in the negotiation strategy.

The international vision of Comce was presented by Juan Pablo Cervantes Sánchez Navarro, president of the North American International Section, who stated that regional competitiveness will depend on deepening integration and building a common agenda that transforms the review of the USMCA into a structural opportunity for the region.

From the federal government, Ismael Ortiz, head of the Global Economic Intelligence Unit of the Ministry of Economy , assured that Mexico is entering the review process strengthened thanks to its industrial capacity, innovation ecosystem and competitive talent , elements that can turn the review into a factor of greater certainty and trade fairness.

The meeting also included the participation of José Medina Mora, president of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) , as well as representatives from the  Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) , the Mexican Business Council , the financial sector, customs agents and international trade specialists, who contributed different perspectives to the debate.

The forum called for strengthened regional and business coordination to transform the challenges of the USMCA renegotiation into long-term advantages. COMCE reiterated its commitment to supporting the Mexican private sector, boosting foreign trade, strengthening investment attraction, and promoting innovation through 2026.

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El cargo Comce and the business sector outline Mexico’s strategy for the USMCA review apareció primero en T21.