On January 1, 2026, Mexico raised import tariffs on 1,463 product categories from non-FTA countries. The increases range from 5% to 50%, with no expiration date. Steel, auto parts, and aluminum are directly affected. This report covers what changed, what it means for maquiladora operations, and why USMCA compliance is now a competitive advantage.
1. New tariffs hit core manufacturing inputs
Mexico increased its MFN (Most Favored Nation) tariff rates across 1,463 eight-digit tariff lines. The affected inputs are sourced from countries without a Mexican free trade agreement, including China, South Korea, India, Malaysia, and Thailand.
| Sector | Tariff Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | 268 | ~18% |
| Auto parts | 74 | ~5% |
| Aluminum | 38 | ~2% |
| Textiles | 418 | ~28% |
| Clothing | 308 | ~21% |
| Plastics | 79 | ~5% |
| Paper / cardboard | 50 | ~3% |
| Footwear | 49 | ~3% |
Steel, auto parts, and aluminum account for ~25% of affected tariff lines. These are not peripheral categories. They are the daily inputs for Juárez manufacturers.
Source: Foley & Lardner LLP, Dec 2025
2. IMMEX registration does not mean duty-free
A common assumption: maquiladora (IMMEX) status automatically exempts companies from import duties. This is incorrect.
Under USMCA Section 2.5, the «Lesser of the Two» rule limits the duty relief available to IMMEX operations:
How it works: If a finished product enters the U.S. duty-free under USMCA, the maquiladora may owe the full Mexican MFN duty on non-FTA inputs. If the finished product is dutiable in the U.S., the Mexican duty is capped at the U.S. rate, but it is not eliminated.
Manufacturers who built supply chains around low-cost non-FTA inputs without origin planning now face costs they did not budget for. Companies that source from FTA countries or qualify their inputs under USMCA rules of origin avoid these duties entirely.
Source: Foley & Lardner LLP, Feb 2026
3. USMCA review begins July 2026
The USMCA joint review begins July 1, 2026. The outcome determines whether the agreement renews for another 16 years.
During the U.S. stakeholder consultation process (December 2025), approximately 1,500 written comments were submitted and over 100 stakeholders testified. The broad consensus: keep the agreement, tighten enforcement on rules of origin and transshipment.
The pressure is not on ending free trade. It is on ensuring that companies using Mexico as a manufacturing base are doing real manufacturing, not routing goods through Mexico to avoid U.S. tariffs on China.
For companies with genuine operations in Juárez, the review reinforces their competitive position. For transshipment operations, the window is closing.
Sources: CSIS · USTR · Mexico Business News
The Bottom Line
Mexico is not becoming more expensive for manufacturers. It is becoming more expensive for non-compliant manufacturers.
Companies that structure their supply chains around USMCA rules of origin, source inputs from FTA countries, and operate genuine manufacturing facilities retain the full tariff advantage. Juárez sits 10 minutes from El Paso with three decades of integrated manufacturing expertise and remains the strongest nearshoring platform available.
The tariff changes and the USMCA review are not threats to real operations. They are filters that separate compliant manufacturers from shortcuts.
Related Reading
- Why Juárez Is North America’s Gateway for Manufacturing
- Nearshoring to Juárez: A Strategic Response to Supply Chain Disruptions
- Juárez: The Birthplace of the Maquiladora
- Tariffs, Nearshoring, and North America’s Gateway (White Paper)
Los Bravos Industrial Parks develops Class-A industrial facilities in Ciudad Juárez. Build-to-suit, flexible leasing, 30 years on the border. If you are building compliant manufacturing operations in Mexico’s top nearshoring corridor, the facility is the first decision.
info@losbravos.mx · +52 (656) 618-6060 · losbravos.mx
