It’s a fact! The imposition of 25% tariffs on Mexican imports by the administration of Donald Trump, president of the United States, shook the transportation and logistics sector on the northern border of Mexico on Tuesday, generating uncertainty at crossings and affecting the operations of transporters and customs agents.
Carlos Fernández, president of the Association of Cargo Transporters of Nuevo Laredo (ATC) and member of the National Executive Council of the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) , described the situation as a severe blow to the region.
“The impact here is brutal because all the cargo arriving via Highway 85 to Nuevo Laredo is international cargo. The amount unloaded in Nuevo Laredo is minimal,” explained Fernández.
Manu el Díaz, president of Supply Chain de México and foreign trade advisor, said that many companies have chosen to stop their shipments until there is greater clarity . However, he explained that, although those with essential merchandise have already begun to pay tariffs, accepting the cost as part of their strategy to maintain the flow of trade, this measure could trigger extra costs for storage.
“Companies are waiting to see what happens. Some have stopped shipments, but others have decided to pay the tariff because maintaining detained inventories ends up being more expensive,” he explained.
Fernandez warned that the true scope of the measure will depend on the duration of the tariffs and how the market reacts.
For his part, Díaz pointed out that these tariffs could lead to structural changes in bilateral trade ; among the possible scenarios, he mentions the transformation of the T-MEC into an agreement exclusively between Mexico and the United States, leaving out Canada.
“In 10 days we will see how things evolve, but the most likely scenario is that selective tariffs will be imposed and that the USMCA will, in practice, become a bilateral agreement,” he said.
Díaz said that the imposition of tariffs will have an inflationary impact on finished products, estimated at between 7% and 8% . This is due to additional costs in marketing, logistics, brands and patents, and although the increase does not reach the total 25% of the tariff, it does represent a significant blow to companies and consumers.
“The problem is not only the tariff, but how it will be reflected in the final consumer. We will not see a 25% impact on prices, but at least 7% or 8% due to the cost structure of marketing and logistics,” the specialist explained.
Solutions?
The Mexican government has decided to respond with moderation, a stance that has drawn criticism but could prevent a more serious trade escalation, said Manuel Diaz.
Some voices suggest imposing mirror tariffs in retaliation, but Díaz warns that this would only make essential products that Mexico needs to import more expensive.
“I do not agree with mirror tariffs. They only make products more expensive that we need to buy anyway, and the poorest people would end up paying that cost. We do not have the muscle for a one-on-one war,” he stressed.
For its part, the logistics and transport sector, when tariffs were still a “threat” from Trump, and had not been approved, was already beginning to take preventive measures.
Cross-border solutions provider Averitt highlighted the importance of strengthening supply chains through strategic warehousing , offering inventory relocation as an alternative to mitigate the impact of tariffs.
Faced with this situation, some companies have begun to explore storage options at strategic points within the United States to ensure the continuity of their operations and avoid additional costs at border crossings.
From the logistics side, Eduardo Chaim, commercial director of VAX Solutions , underlined the volatility of cross-border trade.
“Uncertainty and tension continue to affect the sector. It is essential to act quickly and anticipate changes, analyzing how to diversify operations and adapt to the new scenario,” said Chaim.
According to their analysis, cargo movements have shown significant fluctuations in recent weeks.
“My clients are ordering the same number of services, but they order them in one week instead of distributing them throughout the month. So the warehouses have increased inventory, the flow of requirements is much denser in a single period and then it is very free,” he explained.
Carlos Fernández also indicated that the measure is already affecting investment projects , however, he stressed that it is still too early to evaluate whether the daily flow of trade will undergo a drastic change.
Regarding the Mexican government’s reaction, Fernández considered that President Claudia Sheinbaum’s stance is more oriented towards a political message than towards concrete measures for the sector. He said that the priority should be the generation of a strategic plan with the key actors.
Industry stance
For his part, Israel Delgado, president of the northwest region of Canacar, commented through his social networks that transport companies must adapt and evolve to any situation .
The Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC) said that the application of US tariffs creates uncertainty and could negatively impact various economic sectors in the country.
“Mexico and the United States have built a close and complementary trade relationship, supported by the USMCA. Any measure that alters this balance must be reviewed based on the mechanisms for dialogue and dispute resolution contemplated in the treaty itself,” he said.
He said that the stability and competitiveness of both countries depend on cooperation and the strengthening of their value chains , and that tariffs not only affect Mexico and Canada, but also American companies integrated into the region’s value chains and, above all, American consumers.
They therefore trust in the Mexican Government’s ability to promote a solution that will mitigate the effects of this decision , protecting economic development, productive investment and employment in the country.
“We are joining forces with the productive sector and our authorities, reiterating our willingness to collaborate in building strategies that strengthen Mexico’s competitiveness in international trade,” he said.
In this regard, he said that they will continue to monitor the evolution of the issue, ” convinced that dialogue and cooperation will continue to be the pillars of the relationship between both nations .”
For now, the sector remains on tenterhooks, awaiting trade and political adjustments that will define the true scope of the new tariff scenario. “ We are frozen with the news and little by little we will see the effect of the measure ,” concluded Fernández.
By Karina Quintero / Jennifer Galindo / Evangelina del Toro
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