The review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , highway insecurity, and the urgent need to renew a fleet with an average age of 19 years set the tone for the 2026 Ordinary General Assembly of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) .

During the ceremony, the 2026-2027 National Board of Directors was sworn in , headed by Augusto Ramos Melo, who assumed the national presidency of the organization, replacing Miguel Ángel Martínez Millán. In his first address as president, Ramos highlighted the sector’s economic importance: more than 200,000 companies and the movement of over 80% of the country’s land freight.

He emphasized that the review of the USMCA, which will take place next July, will be a key moment for the trucking industry , and stated that Canacar will maintain close contact with authorities and legislators to defend the sector’s competitiveness.

Among the initial commitments, he announced a 100-day work plan , with monthly progress reports, and the goal of promoting 50 new safe rest stops during this year, a measure directly linked to the safety of the operators.

Security and infrastructure at the heart of the debate

Security was one of the most frequently reiterated themes by legislators and federal authorities. From the Chamber of Deputies , Víctor Manuel Pérez Díaz, president of the Communications and Transportation Committee, emphasized that cargo theft is a direct threat to competitiveness and the safety of drivers.

According to the analysis Mexico: Annual Report 2025 on cargo theft , carried out by  Overhaul , during the past year, cargo theft in Mexico showed a greater geographical dispersion, although it was concentrated in the most industrialized regions, with the center (51%) and the Bajío (31%) being the areas that registered the highest incidence, with 82 percent.

At the same time, the importance of modernizing the fleet was emphasized in the context of the USMCA review and the challenges of regional competitiveness.

Institutional coordination was another key message during the assembly, aimed at strengthening the road transport sector, which will require concrete actions in infrastructure, security, and administrative modernization.

In that regard, the Undersecretary of Communications and Transportation, Tania Carro Toledo, highlighted that progress is being made in “the conservation and modernization of highway infrastructure, the strengthening of public road safety on the federal highway network, the promotion of the construction of comprehensive rest stops, and the incorporation of new technologies for the simplification and digitization of procedures.”

Augusto Ramos also mentioned the shortage of 90,000 operators in the country and indicated that he would seek specific treatment for the operators’ work schedule, arguing that it cannot be equated with other sectors. He also ruled out the possibility of the new administration resorting to strikes or blockades as a pressure tactic, prioritizing instead ongoing working groups with authorities.

Institutional presence and regional vision

The assembly included the participation of federal legislators, representatives from the National Guard , the Ministry of Economy , and business organizations. On the economic and trade front, Juan Carlos Baker, CEO of Ansley International Consultants , also participated, providing insights into the international environment and the scenarios Mexico will face within the framework of the North American trade agreement review.

He warned that the USMCA will be key to the country’s logistical competitiveness and highlighted that foreign trade has been the main support of the national economy in recent years.

In January 2026 alone, Mexican exports totaled 48 billion 008 million dollars (mdd) , which meant an increase of 8.1% compared to the same month of 2025, according to the  National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .

Baker noted that, despite global volatility and tariff tensions in the US political arena, trade between Mexico and the United States continues to grow, which necessitates strengthening infrastructure, legal certainty, and operational efficiency.

In December 2025, Mexico consolidated its position as the main trading partner of its northern neighbor, registering an exchange of goods worth 70 billion 521 million dollars , according to data from the  United States Census Bureau .

The institutional message was consistent: freight transport is a structural pillar of the Mexican economy . “Without freight transport, there is no economy worth having,” stated Alejandro Malagón Barragán, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , emphasizing that the sector moves more than 80% of the country’s land freight.

The day also included a tour of “Expo Canacar” , a space in which brands associated with the chamber and companies supplying the sector participated.

Later, already as acting president, Augusto Ramos toured the exhibition area, talking with business partners and representatives of the various brands present, in a sign of institutional continuity and closeness with the sector’s value chain .

With an agenda that combines security, infrastructure, professionalization, vehicle renewal and institutional strengthening, Canacar begins a new stage under the leadership of Augusto Ramos, with the immediate challenge of translating its motto into actions that deliver results for a sector that moves more than eight out of every 10 goods in the country.

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During the panel Cybersecurity in critical infrastructures: Modern strategies to protect OT/ICS environments , specialists highlighted the importance of implementing specific strategies for the protection of Operational Technology (OT) environments .

At the event, held as part of the 2nd Scitum Telmex Executive Forum 2026 , they pointed out that, unlike Information Technology (IT) systems, a production incident not only compromises information, but can also cause operational stoppages, sanctions and direct risks to the safety of people, in addition to the need to protect production lines without affecting profitability .

Availability remains a priority in industrial systems. Víctor Anda, director for Latin America at TXOne Networks , explained that protection in this sector focuses on operation.

“It’s not about adapting something that already exists and modifying it for OT. It’s something that has to be born with OT in mind. We can’t isolate a production machine; we have to protect it without compromising its operation,” he stressed.

For his part, Alessandro Galvao do Vale, IoT/OT Security CoE Leader at Scitum, explained that the impact of an attack on critical infrastructure can reach macroeconomic levels , with cases where production stoppages have affected the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of entire countries. He also indicated that, to integrate security into the value chain , it is vital to translate technical vulnerabilities into business terms.

“When I talk about risks, it’s the common image for everyone: security, finance, operations and general management,” he stated.

David Nieto, Trellix ‘s regional leader , said the gap between available technology and its adoption stems from a fear of disrupting long-standing processes. The proposal is to begin by providing visibility through an architecture and asset map without direct intervention .

Juan Carlos Báez Martínez, head of the Scientific Directorate of the National Guard , proposed institutionalizing capacity-building programs that scale from the individual to the sector level . The goal is to build resilience in the face of a tolerated peace in cyberspace.

“In the midst of a tolerated peace that exists in the cyber environment, it is not about being reactive, but about having sufficient systematic resilience,” he emphasized.

Experts highlighted several solutions for protecting production lines without impacting profitability, such as micro-segmentation and virtual patching technologies , which offer an advanced layer of protection for critical assets, preventing restarts that could halt plant operations for days. In addition, adaptive artificial intelligence (AI) is used, which can counter autonomous attacks and detect vulnerabilities in legacy systems that remain essential for production continuity.

On the other hand, digital twins have become key tools for simulating attacks and testing controls in virtual environments before implementing them on the actual production line, reducing risks and improving incident preparedness. Finally, controlled reactions allow for countering sabotage attempts while maintaining production, simultaneously conducting forensic analysis to strengthen future defenses.

Inaction represents the greatest threat, the experts agreed, and investing in cybersecurity not only reduces exposure but also becomes a competitive advantage . “If I invest, I am less exposed than my competitors who don’t,” summarized Alessandro Galvao do Vale.

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The outlook for the automotive industry in the face of the revision of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is not encouraging, according to experts, who agreed that the process will be complex and marked by external pressures seeking to tighten rules of origin.

During the XXIII International Congress of the Automotive Industry in Mexico (CIIAM) , Rogelio Garza, executive president of the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA) , warned that the review will not only bring technical negotiations, but also a political debate with the intention of toughening conditions and evaluating the impact of the growing Asian participation in the value chains.

“A complicated process is shaping up,” he stated, noting that the challenge will be maintaining a balance in regional integration in the face of external interests.

For his part, Francisco González, executive president of the National Auto Parts Industry (INA) , emphasized that Mexico cannot limit itself to assembling vehicles, but must increase the domestic content in the automobiles of the future. To achieve this, he said, it is necessary to integrate more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the supply chain, especially at the second and third levels, and support them with financing, training, and quality certifications .

“Every additional point of regional content represents more jobs, more local innovation, and more attraction of foreign direct investment,” he said.

Along the same lines, Guillermo Rosales, executive president of the Mexican Association of Automobile Dealers (AMDA) , noted that Mexico’s competitiveness will not be defined solely by the treaty negotiations, but also by the internal conditions the country manages to guarantee.

He emphasized the need to maintain a level playing field with regional partners, with clear rules and a certain environment that allows dealers and distributors to continue promoting vehicle renewal. He warned that, as long as there is no regulatory certainty, investment and planning decisions will remain on hold.

Experts agreed that, in light of the USMCA review, the central challenge will be to strengthen regional competitiveness , recognizing that North American value chains are indivisible.

Under pressure from external actors and Asian competition, Mexico must strengthen its local supply chain and ensure internal conditions that consolidate it as a strategic partner in the region.

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Volkswagen Mexico and Audi Mexico held a seminar for their suppliers, an event they held with the aim of strengthening the skills of supplier companies in key areas such as certification of origin and security in the supply chain.

According to a statement issued by the companies, more than 200 representatives of supplier companies of both shipbuilders participated in the meeting , and had the opportunity to address aspects such as certification of origin under the free trade agreement and supply chain security programs, such as the certification of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) and CTPAT, which are essential to optimize export processes.

This type of event is extremely important as it brings together two of the most important shipbuilders.

In the first nine months of 2024, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , Volkswagen and Audi produced 418,950 vehicles in total , of which 85% were destined for international markets.

This type of seminar demonstrates the commitment of these companies to the sustainability of their operations and the strengthening of their value chains, which are essential for competitiveness in the North American market.

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The logistics value chain , which spans from production to distribution of products, is highly dependent on the use of plastics . However, the use of this material for single use in packaging or packaging has important environmental consequences, contributing significantly to pollution, according to Ana Macarena Chávez, Commercial Director of Bioelements in Mexico.

Chávez explained that the value and supply chain include several critical stages , from production to product distribution, and all depend heavily on the use of plastics. However, this extensive use is not without environmental consequences.

Single-use plastics and at least one packaging or packaging contribute significantly to environmental pollution.

In this sense, Bioelements studies reveal that in Mexico the increase in online purchases has motivated the generation of solid waste, mainly plastic, which ranges between 40% and 60% of waste materials. Additionally, one in five e-commerce purchases is returned to the business, further increasing the waste load.

According to Bioelements, more than 40% of the plastic used globally is used once and then thrown away. If this trend continues, by 2050 there will be more than 12 billion tons of plastic waste on the planet, equivalent to almost 80 million blue whales.

Given this situation, the company has dedicated itself to the production of biodegradable packaging that becomes food for microorganisms and fungi in a period of 20 months.

According to the commercial director of Bioelements in Mexico, the company was founded eight years ago in Chile, and arrived in Mexico six years ago to be an alternative for the environment.

“Bioelements offers sustainable materials that maintain the functionality of conventional plastic. We know that plastic has multiple necessary uses, so our challenge is to transform these plastics into waste that biodegrades and becomes food for the planet. Currently, more than 70% of plastic waste in Mexico ends up in landfills, so our mission is to offer a viable and sustainable alternative,” highlighted Ana Macarena Chávez.

The company owns its own biodegradable resin and works closely with partners in different markets to ensure efficient production and distribution.

Likewise, sustainability is a fundamental pillar in each stage of the process , with a focus on minimizing CO2 emissions. The organization is certified as a B company, which implies an economic, as well as social and environmental, commitment.

Chávez emphasized that last year, Bioelements experienced more than 20% growth in Mexico. With aggressive expansion plans in Latin America and the United States, the company continues to innovate in various business units, from food bags to industrial packaging.

According to the specialist, the transformation towards a more sustainable packaging industry is urgent and necessary , so its expansion plans in the country and in other markets will be one of its priorities.

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