The world is going through a new era of international competition in which logistics, technology, and supply chains have become the central axes of power, according to Claudia Ávila , general director of Customs Services and International Affairs at Mexico’s National Customs Agency (ANAM) .

During his participation in the conference “Customs and Logistics Competitiveness in Fragmented International Trade ,” organized by the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) , Ávila emphasized the urgency of understanding the structural changes that are transforming global trade.

“We are obliged to know what is happening in the world, how it impacts our country and, ultimately, us as business owners and individuals,” he said.

To illustrate his point, Ávila reviewed history: in the world wars, the objective was to control territories; in the Cold War, it was to dominate nuclear power; with globalization, it was to guarantee access to markets. Today, he said, the new battlefield is the control of supply chains and the logistical infrastructure that supports them .

He emphasized that seemingly distant conflicts, such as tensions in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, or the trade dispute between the United States and China , have a direct impact on Mexican trade.

Examples such as the water crisis in the Panama Canal or attacks on ships in the Red Sea have demonstrated that global routes are vulnerable, while the rise of organized crime and cyber threats add new risks to the movement of goods.

“We’re no longer just talking about smuggling or drugs; today we’re facing a 4.0 crime, capable of infiltrating digital systems and generating logistical chaos,” Ávila warned.

He also noted that supply chains are no longer exposed only to physical delays, but also to technological disruptions.

Amid this “logistics and technology war ,” Mexico has gained prominence thanks to the nearshoring phenomenon , where sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and medical devices are leading the flow of investment to the country, backed by its proximity to the United States, its manufacturing expertise, and the potential to strengthen intermodal transportation.

“Mexico has the opportunity to become a strategic pivot in global logistics,” he said.

He emphasized that the country should not be content with simply being a neighbor of the United States, but should position itself as an indispensable partner in the reconfiguration of value chains.

Furthermore, Ávila insisted that customs offices should stop being viewed solely as tax collection points and instead become fundamental components of logistics competitiveness.

In this regard, he emphasized that companies seek certainty, agility, and transparency , while authorities must guarantee legality and security.

“You’re asking for certainty and speed; we must guarantee legality and security. The key is to find a balance and dance this tango together,” he said.

During his participation, he also shared ANAM’s progress in digitalization and trade facilitation, with the goal of offering more agile and transparent processes. He emphasized that, in addition to technology, the institution promotes ethics and integrity programs to combat corruption and change the customs culture.

“International trade is entering a new era, and Mexican customs must rise to these challenges. Mexico is not just a transit point: it can and must become a strategic player in global logistics,” he emphasized.

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Beginning August 29, 2025, all shipments of goods valued at or below $800 entering the United States will be subject to tariffs, regardless of origin, transportation, or method of entry, according to the executive order Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for all Countries, signed by the White House on July 30 .

This decree suspends the tax exemption known as “de minimis ,” a provision that has facilitated e-commerce and low-value cross-border purchases for years.

The U.S. government justified the measure in the context of several declared national emergencies, including the persistent trade deficit, the flow of synthetic opioids from China, and specific provisions with Canada, Mexico, China, and Hong Kong , among others. The measure seeks to close legal loopholes exploited for smuggling and tax evasion, in addition to ensuring that current tariffs are fully effective.

The regulations provide differentiated treatment for shipments circulating through the international postal network, which will be subject to a new mixed tariff scheme that will be temporary for six months; however, starting in 2026, all taxes will be calculated on the value of the shipment.

The change is also part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act , enacted on July 4, 2025, which provides for the definitive elimination of “ de minimis” worldwide starting July 1, 2027. The US executive order brings forward that scenario due to what the government describes as “immediate emergencies.”

Impact on the logistics industry: the DHL case

Following the announcement, several international postal operators announced temporary restrictions on shipments to the United States, due to a lack of clarity on how the new tariffs and customs data transmission processes will be applied.

In contrast, DHL Express reported that its international express services to the United States and Puerto Rico continue to operate normally , applying the corresponding tariffs under current legislation.

“Our experience and deep knowledge of customs are key differentiators, complemented by advanced information technology solutions that we continually develop to empower our customers and enable them to maintain efficient supply chains, even in the most challenging environments,” DHL Express Mexico noted in a fact sheet.

The company clarified that the restrictions apply only to postal operations, such as those of Deutsche Post and DHL Paket in Germany , which suspended package shipments to the United States on August 22 due to new procedures required by U.S. customs.

In the case of shipments between individuals labeled as “gifts” of up to $100, these will continue to be possible, although under stricter controls to prevent abuse in commercial shipments, while the sending of documents by letter remains unchanged.

Furthermore, the end of the ” de minimis” exemption creates an environment of uncertainty in the logistics and e-commerce industries , especially for small and medium-sized businesses that relied on this regime to reduce entry costs to the U.S. market.

While the U.S. government is presenting this as a security and fiscal control measure, the logistics sector, especially the parcel delivery sector, is in jeopardy as it awaits clear guidelines on how to apply the new tariffs , how they are collected, and, above all, who pays them.

This, in turn, is due to the limited time allowed to adapt IT and logistics systems , which has left operators unable to react in time.

Furthermore, the elimination of the ” de minimis” requirement represents a profound change for online shoppers , as the additional cost could be passed on to the end buyer or partially absorbed by the platforms, but in either case it will increase operational complexity and delivery times.

Should this measure be replicated by other countries? It’s worth remembering that various industries in Mexico have been severely affected by the massive arrival of Asian platforms operating in the country, such as the textile, footwear, and toy industries, as well as the transportation sector, which are all affected by these platforms’ malpractice.

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The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) announced on Tuesday its new growth estimates for this year for the region, where it noted a reduction from 2.4%, projected by the end of 2024, to 2 percent .

Under the new projections, Mexico and Central America will be among the regions hardest hit in terms of growth this year, dropping from 1.8 percent to just 1.0 percent . Another region where growth slowed was the Caribbean, which went from a projected growth of 2.3 percent to 1.8 percent .

According to ECLAC, the region is facing a highly uncertain international scenario due to the tariffs imposed by the United States, which have not only directly affected the region’s exports but have also caused greater volatility in international financial markets .

Furthermore, the so-called trade war  has increased the risk of serious disruptions in global production chains and international trade flows, leading to a downward revision of global growth prospects .

Finally, ECLAC noted that if the region wants to boost its growth, it requires a combination of macroeconomic and productive development policies, increasing investment in physical and human capital. Therefore, the region must not only invest more, but also invest better .

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Lila Abed, Mexico director of the Wilson Center Institute , noted that other risks include political polarization and cyberattacks, as well as the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Speaking at the 56th National Chemical Industry Forum , organized by the National Chemical Industry Association (ANIQ) , Abed said that tariffs imposed on certain Chinese products when Donald Trump was president of the United States were not lifted by Joe Biden, which created further tensions between the two nations.

Mexico is the weakest link in cybersecurity , so it is essential to make investments in this area, he stressed.

Regarding the economy, he reported that economic decline is one of the main risks for the North American region, which would affect the countries that make up the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC).

Lila Abed highlighted that one of the most relevant issues in this area is the election in the United States, since whoever wins, whether it is Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, will have their own policies and relations with our country.

He pointed out that there is a risk of “derailing” the T-MEC review process in 2026 , since both candidates are betting on the return of production chains to the northern neighbor through protectionist policies.

Meanwhile, Sergio Silva, who was appointed head of the Economic Development and Growth Unit of the Ministry of Economy and will take office on November 1, said that we are in a time of great geopolitical tensions, although a period of readjustment is coming.

In this regard, he suggested that Mexico’s position in the world should be considered, and pointed out that the result of the United States elections is up in the air, since, although the polls reveal that one of the candidates is above another, the reality is that the next president of that country will be defined by who wins the Electoral College and not the popular vote.

Beyond that, he said the conflict with China will continue , as will the US interest in an “aggressive” industrial policy.

This scenario creates challenges and opportunities for Mexico, especially due to the relocation of labor in our country ( nearshoring ), although Silva pointed out that it is important to know how to measure the indicators of this phenomenon, since it cannot be done by taking into account only foreign direct investment.

In this context, he said that the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) is asking companies what they are doing with their investments and whether they are the result of nearshoring.

Sergio Silva asserted that the relocation of companies cannot be everything in the economic sense, since Mexico must delve deeper into its own value chains, where the chemical industry is a factor to consider.

Mark Eramo, Senior VP Global Lead – Fuels, Chemicals and Resource Solutions at S&P Global , said that geopolitics affects decisions made by the chemical industry, and he considered that in the era of environmental change, we have to see how this sector responds when it makes an investment in energies that do not use hydrocarbons.

The specialist pointed out that the energy transition, which is aimed at Net Zero , must be done with the help of technology, and pointed out that in this industry a project cannot be carried out without first analyzing the environmental impacts.

Politically, Eramo agreed with the other panelists that the elections in the United States will be decisive in determining where this industry is headed.

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CANCÚN, Q. ROO. – The next head of the Ministry of Economy (SE) , Marcelo Ebrard, who will take office on October 1, was one of the most talked about panelists in the hallways and groups of businessmen who participated in the National Convention of the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) .

In a presentation to the members of Canacar lasting no more than 30 minutes, the next head of the SE outlined the scenario that will take place in the renegotiation of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC), the opportunities that exist in foreign trade and also left a message of closeness with this community by committing a place within the federal agency  to be living the day of this economic activity.

Ebrard shared that the renegotiation of the T-MEC will begin with consultations during the second half of 2025, however, unlike in 2018, there is now an environment of protectionism that will have to be dealt with, not only because of the attitude of the Republican candidate Donald Trump , but also because of the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who at the time voted against this agreement .

“We are facing a trade war between China and the United States,” explained the former foreign minister in the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Ebrard highlighted that on October 15 they will begin the “CEO Dialogue” with which they will approach businessmen who are immersed in the commercial exchange between Mexico and the United States, and where they seek to explore the areas to maintain sustained growth.

Mexico and the United States have one of the strongest trade relations , with Mexico being the largest exporter to its northern neighbor, but also the largest importer.

In the cumulative total through July 2024, Mexico’s exports to the United States totaled 290,981.3 million dollars (mdd), while in the opposite direction they total 195,053.3 million dollars, according to data from Census.gov.

Marcelo Ebrard stressed that beyond the net value, the percentage of exports with domestic added value from the origin of the production chain must be increased and that since 1993 it has remained below 20 percent. “It has to be double, it is a huge effort, but it will increase the value of our economy and therefore the salary and standard of living.”

To increase the added value of the economy, the next official of Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration acknowledged that it is necessary to work closely with companies to build the agenda every day, and in the case of auto transport, issues such as fleet renewal , improving competitiveness with the United States or what is being faced in terms of insecurity on the roads must be addressed .

“We need daily information on what is happening and to react in time together with the Ministry of Security and the competent authorities, but having greater security has to do with the economy,” Ebrard explained.

To address these issues, Marcelo Ebrard promised business leaders in the sector to provide a permanent seat in the Ministry of Economy, so that the challenges facing the auto transport sector that limit economic growth can be communicated on a daily basis .

In its analysis, the Ministry of Economy will be able to coordinate with other departments in order to address the aforementioned issues such as security or fleet renewal.

The age of the cargo transportation fleet reaches at least an average of 20 years old and, in Marcelo Ebrard’s perspective, this reduces competitiveness compared to commercial partners.

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