Trade policies have become one of the main factors redefining global trade. Beyond tariffs, governments are increasingly resorting to instruments such as import restrictions, subsidies, and other protectionist measures that alter the functioning of global supply chains , according to the World Trade Organization (WTO) .

In its most recent update of the Trade Policy Activity Index (TPA) , developed by the WTO and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) , it was indicated that trade regulatory activity continued to accelerate, reaching a new all-time high in early 2026 , the most pronounced since data collection began.

The indicator reflected that between January and May of this year, global trade policy activity nearly doubled its 2024 level and stood approximately 25% above its 2025 average, confirming that government intervention in international trade continues to intensify.

According to the document, this behavior reflects an increasingly frequent use of trade policy for objectives that go beyond the exchange of goods, such as industrial policy, economic security, and the protection of strategic sectors.

Economists from both organizations identified that the turning point began after episodes such as the US-China tariff escalation between 2018 and 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. These factors were compounded by trade tensions during 2025, which continue this year.

One of the report’s main findings is the shift in the composition of trade measures. While actions aimed at facilitating trade—such as simplifying customs procedures or reducing barriers—have lost momentum in recent years (with the exception of the Strait of Hormuz crisis, where they accounted for more than two-thirds of all measures taken), restrictive actions have become more prevalent .

The study indicated that tariff increases, quantitative restrictions, import bans, and other trade control mechanisms are the main drivers of the growth observed in the index.

The increase in trade measures is no longer concentrated in the major economies . Although G20 countries continue to register the largest spikes in activity, this behavior has spread to smaller economies, reflecting a transformation of the global trade environment .

According to the report, trade policy activity is expected to continue increasing throughout the rest of 2026.

For companies linked to logistics, transport and foreign trade, this scenario implies a more complex regulatory environment, where the ability to adapt supply routes, diversify suppliers and respond to regulatory changes will be increasingly crucial to maintaining competitiveness.

Trade policy decisions no longer only affect market access, but also the configuration of supply chains, operational resilience, and foreign trade costs.

The analysis comes in a context where the United States has imposed tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% ​​on imports from 60 trading partners, including Mexico, under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on forced labor, further complicating international trade.

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Mexico’s National Customs Agency (ANAM) is at a turning point. Faced with the challenge of modernizing a historically outdated system riddled with discretion , its current leadership seeks to transform the country’s operational structure toward a model of greater integrity, traceability, and efficiency. This was stated by Claudia Ávila, Director of Citizen Services and International Affairs at ANAM, during her participation in the 20th Annual Convention of the Mexican Institute of Foreign Trade Executives (IMECE) , where she assessed the role of customs in the context of global trade and the industrial reconfiguration underway in Mexico

“At customs, we don’t make the rules; we are responsible for ensuring that those rules are followed,” he stated, in a tone that revealed both an acknowledgment of institutional limitations and the burden of responsibility for an agency seeking to clean up its own image. Ávila insisted that ANAM is part of a broader governmental ecosystem—along with the Tax Administration Service (SAT), the Ministry of Economy, and regulatory authorities—that must act in coordination with the private sector to guarantee the continuity of foreign trade

The official emphasized that Mexico is experiencing a “strategic” moment as it consolidates its position as the country with the greatest manufacturing integration in North America. “From being an oil-producing country, we have become a manufacturing country (…) we are the leading producer of heavy vehicles and have a significant presence in sectors such as aerospace and pharmaceuticals,” she said. However, she warned that this position is not without risks: geopolitical volatility, the reconfiguration of global supply chains, and accelerated industrial automation are placing unprecedented pressure on Mexican customs, whose function can no longer be limited to revenue collection, but must now ensure fluidity, security, and confidence

“Changes no longer happen over years or months; they happen in days. From one day to the next, tariffs, wars, or regional blockades can force the relocation of trade routes,” he warned. Faced with this reality, he maintained, ANAM aims to consolidate a “modern, reliable, and efficient customs service,” based on three lines of action: professionalizing personnel, modernizing technology, and deepening cooperation with the private sector.

In her opening remarks, the director emphasized the challenge of “enhancing the dignity of customs personnel” through training programs and internal controls that foster a culture of integrity. “Behind every operation are women and men who apply the law responsibly and represent the Mexican State in global trade,” she noted. Within this framework, ANAM participates in the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) Anti-Corruption and Integrity program , with the goal of standardizing practices, strengthening reporting and sanctioning systems, and connecting with companies that have compliance programs: “It takes two to tango; we all have to take responsibility for combating corruption.”

The second line of action focuses on modernizing technological processes to reduce discretion and close loopholes for corruption. “ Organized crime is already 4.0. It also uses artificial intelligence. We have to beat it with intelligence and transparency,” he emphasized. ANAM is working on the automation of critical processes, interoperability between agencies, and the integration of risk analysis systems, all under the coordination of the new Federal Government Digital Transformation Agency. In this context, Ávila confirmed that unified systems are being developed to connect ANAM with the Tax Administration Service (SAT), the Ministry of Economy, and regulatory bodies through the Mexican Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCEM) .

The third line of action aims to consolidate cooperation with the private sector through the new Facilitation Committee, which is soon to be formalized. “We don’t want courtesy meetings; we want institutional agreements that can be monitored over time,” he stated. This link, he said, seeks to build mutual trust, since “customs agencies cannot and should not work in isolation.”

The director also referred to the new control instruments stemming from the reform to the Customs Law, such as the declaration of value and the traceability of operations. “The spirit is to promote formalization (…) just as the authority must comply with transparency, the company must be transparent in its supply chain,” she stated. She acknowledged that ANAM is refining regulations and guidelines to ensure the rules are clear , but insisted that the private sector must assume its role: “If your company is formal, but your supplier is not, traceability is lost.”

Regarding infrastructure and equipment, Ávila confirmed that the Customs Modernization Program, spearheaded by the head of ANAM, Rafael Marín Mollinedo, remains in effect. This program includes the renewal of non-intrusive inspection equipment, mobile laboratories, inspection arches, and state-of-the-art X-ray machines at the border, as well as the upcoming inauguration of the new Veracruz customs facility and the new ANAM national headquarters in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, the country’s main commercial crossing point.

This modernization, she emphasized, is not limited to acquiring equipment, but rather involves building a secure digital ecosystem. “It’s not just about having the machine; it’s about the software, the connectivity, the security, and the training of those who operate them,” she explained. The official acknowledged that they are working “at full speed” to integrate the systems with fiber optics and cloud storage, with the goal of achieving real-time information exchange between national and foreign customs offices

Finally, Ávila emphasized that ANAM seeks to be seen “as a reliable facilitator of trade and not as an obstacle .” Every improvement, he said, “is an improvement in national competitiveness.” And he concluded with a message that summarizes the purpose of this new stage: “ANAM has a purpose that goes beyond revenue collection: to protect the country and facilitate its prosperity. We want business owners to see Mexican customs as a reliable ally, one that respects the law and supports economic development with professionalism.”

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Emilio Cadena, CEO of Prodensa , highlighted the role of IMMEX companies – belonging to the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing Industry – in the national industry, and how they have contributed to the growth and development of the manufacturing sector, within the framework of the 50th National Index Convention,  of the  National Council of the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing Industry (National Index) .

“Thirty years ago, no one would have believed that Guanajuato would be the automotive capital of North America. Forty years ago, no one believed that Mexicali would be what it is today, in Monterrey, in Apodaca, which for me is like the laboratory, the one closest to me, also because I live in Monterrey,” he emphasized.

Cadena indicated that what is happening at the industrial level in the country’s entities is very important, however, there is a need to invest more and think about China , in terms of what it is doing at the manufacturing level.

“I believe we can do it, but we need to think about China. That’s one of the most important things we hope we can do, and that means investing a lot of money in Mexico’s industrial growth,” he emphasized on the panel ” IMMEX in the National Industry . “

He said that an important issue in industrial competitiveness is trade facilitation , which is why he considered that the private sector should also do its part in compliance .

“This aspect of security and compliance also depends on us . I think if there’s one thing we as an industry have to keep in mind, it’s that if we have some maquiladoras, it’s very easy to catch those who are doing simulations. There are many compliance issues we have to address . So we also have to sit down and decide what kind of companies we’re going to create,” he emphasized.

In this regard, he emphasized the need to make business ethics one of the key pillars of the sector’s competitiveness , “because that’s the best way we can present ourselves to the authorities.”

Given the changes in global trade and economic conditions, he argued that IMMEX industries need to be protected, which also requires changes in the business sector.

Technology, an ally of the manufacturing industry

The use of technology, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), has created a resilient supply chain in the manufacturing industry in the face of current economic disruptions, which also contributes to the sector’s improved operations.

At the conference Manufacturing Success: Digital Transformation in the New Industrial Era , María Guadalupe Ramos Díaz de León, Digital Transformation Manager at Alestra , stated that one of the purposes of technological tools is that they are allies of business objectives .

He noted that business trends in the manufacturing sector include “supply chain resilience, operational resilience and risk management, automation and efficiency with AI, innovation, and digitally-focused business innovation . ”

To have an industrial ecosystem of the future, it is necessary to combine digital, physical, and capital resources, since “you can’t be in an isolated ecosystem,” he explained.

Currently, operations in manufacturing and other sectors are targeting the application of technologies such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics , AI, and multicloud, with a view to a digital transformation in industry.

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CANCÚN, Q. ROO.- The Transportation Services Index (TSI) , carried out by the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and which measures the demand for freight services, averaged a total of 137.57 points in 2023, by 2024 this indicator dropped to levels of 136.84 and in the first seven months of 2025 it stood at 137.23 units.

The United States is facing a phenomenon known as the “Great Freight Recession ,” which combines very flat demand for transportation services, falling service rates , and rising operating costs , leading to the collapse of several companies.

In this context, there is an increase in companies with services with operators called B1 (who have a United States visa), and can perform international transport services, that is, services that have as origin-destination a point in the United States or Mexico, but that cannot perform cabotage service, that is, connecting two or more points in the United States with cargo that is not international .

According to experts from Mexico, the United States, and Canada, the market situation has prompted some Mexican companies with B1 operators to meet the needs of shippers in the United States, who, in order to pay low rates, use operators with this status for cabotage. “It is not normal for a B1 operator to take up to four weeks to return to Mexico ,” some businesspeople consulted agree.

Within the framework of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) National Convention , the panel “The USMCA under review: What’s at stake for national freight transportation?” was held . One of the topics discussed was the situation faced by foreign operators in the United States.

Last August, a traffic accident occurred in Florida involving a truck and a private vehicle, resulting in the deaths of several family members. “What happened in Florida has raised questions about whether licensing is being done correctly ,” said Ed Gilroy, Chief Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) .

In this regard, Martín Rojas, Senior Advisor for the Americas of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) , stressed that the United States must strengthen its oversight to ensure that B1 licenses are being used correctly, as a way of protecting the operators themselves , who in some cases are left helpless by their companies when a situation arises.

From the participants’ perspective, the situation with B1 operators must be prioritized to avoid impacting the mobility of goods within the United States and to prevent them from spreading schemes like those in some entities, which seek to limit the operations of transport units to operators with foreign licenses . This situation, from the perspective of Greg Arndt, Co-Owner & Vice President Jade Transport Ltd. and the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) , goes against the trade facilitation that is required as a region.

Manuel Sotelo, vice president of Canacar’s Northern Region, emphasized that one demand from the trucking industry for authorities in the North American region is that greater trade facilitation be urgently needed to allow for closer integration with the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

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