CAINTRA Targets Asian Imports Through Local Supply Chains

Summary: Mexico is seeking to reduce dependence on Asian imports by strengthening domestic supply chains and expanding the role of SMEs in manufacturing, with Nuevo Leon emerging as a key testing ground through supplier matching, financing and administrative support. CAINTRA's Expo Pyme 2026 initiative, alongside federal tariffs and tighter controls on Asian steel imports, reflects a broader strategy to increase domestic sourcing, integrate Mexican companies into global value chains and improve supply-chain resilience. 

The Nuevo Leon Chamber of the Transformation Industry (Caintra) is seeking to expand the role of SMEs in domestic supply chains as Mexico moves to reduce its dependence on Asian imports and strengthen local manufacturing capacity. The strategy was a central theme at Expo Pyme 2026, which expects to generate MX$14.5 billion in business activity at Cintermex.

CAINTRA's initiative comes as federal authorities are also taking measures to limit the inflow of low-cost Asian products, including steel from China, South Korea and Vietnam, reported MBN. Together, the policies point to a broader effort to increase domestic sourcing, integrate smaller companies into global value chains and improve the competitiveness of Mexican manufacturers. 

SMEs Seek Greater Integration Into Industry

The push to develop local suppliers reflects the growing need to connect Mexico's large industrial base with domestic companies capable of replacing imported inputs. CAINTRA estimates that SMEs account for approximately 85% of establishments in Nuevo Leon and represent the state's main source of employment.

Jorge Santos, President, CAINTRA, said the current market environment creates an opportunity to increase local production of the supplies consumed by large manufacturers.

“We aim for SMEs to truly integrate into value chains and to achieve import substitution, particularly regarding the Asian market. We need what our industry consumes to be produced here—by companies from Monterrey that generate jobs and development in the region,” Santos said.

To translate that objective into commercial opportunities, Expo Pyme 2026 established a B2B business-matching program connecting SMEs with more than 100 large purchasing companies. The participating buyers represent industries including automotive, appliances and metalworking, providing smaller suppliers with potential access to contracts and new supply-chain relationships.

The event is also addressing one of the main barriers to that integration: financing. CAINTRA brought together 11 banks and financial institutions offering financing options intended to provide companies with the liquidity required to take on new contracts and expand production.

More than 80 conferences and specialized workshops are also being offered during the three-day event, including sessions focused on artificial intelligence and its application to business operations. The objective is to help local companies improve productivity and technological capabilities as they compete for a larger share of industrial supply chains. 

Nuevo Leon Expands Financing And Market Access

The state government is complementing CAINTRA's supplier-development strategy with financing and administrative measures intended to make it easier for companies to expand. These programs are particularly relevant as SMEs seek the capital required to meet the production, technology and certification requirements of larger industrial customers.

Governor Samuel García said the state has already helped channel MX$10.896 billion through Nafin and Bancomext to 4,300 companies. He added that the financing program is expected to provide another MX$4 billion this year.

“We want those who need soft, affordable credit, even credit based on trust, to know that we are here,” García said.

The governor also announced that the state's “Cero Clausuras” administrative simplification program will be extended to medium-sized companies. The initiative is intended to reduce inspections and bureaucratic obstacles that can disrupt business operations.

At the same time, the Hecho en Nuevo León platform is supporting local commercialization. The initiative brings together more than 4,200 companies and provides another channel for increasing visibility and sales for locally produced goods.

These measures give the supplier-development strategy a broader industrial context. While state-level initiatives seek to help Pymes become suppliers, federal trade policies are increasingly aimed at ensuring that domestic producers can compete against imported products in strategic industries. 

Mexico Tightens Controls On Asian Steel Imports

The federal government is reinforcing that approach in the steel industry, where low-cost Asian imports have placed additional pressure on domestic producers. Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard announced that Mexico will permanently maintain tariffs ranging from 10% to 35% on 220 steel products imported from Asian countries, including China, South Korea and Vietnam.

The tariffs were initially introduced in April 2024 and were scheduled to expire in April 2025. Their permanent extension is intended to provide greater protection for Mexican steelmakers as the industry faces declining production, weak capacity utilization and increasing trade restrictions in the US market, reported MBN. 

“We have to make a special effort to protect, to defend the industry. So, the tariffs will be renewed permanently,” Ebrard said during the 78th General Assembly of the Cámara Nacional de la Industria del Hierro y del Acero (Canacero).

The government also plans to tighten controls over import mechanisms that could be used to bring Asian steel and other products into Mexico before they are shipped to the United States. Authorities will phase out temporary steel import permits under the IMMEX program and strengthen oversight of IMMEX, PROCET and Regla Octava regimes.

Customs authorities and the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT) will coordinate to prevent these mechanisms from being used to channel Chinese and other Asian products through Mexico for eventual export to the United States.

Against this backdrop, Expo Pyme 2026 illustrates how import substitution is being pursued beyond tariffs. CAINTRA's effort to connect SMEs with major buyers, expand access to financing and promote technology adoption reflects a strategy aimed at building the domestic supplier base needed to capture demand currently met by foreign producers.

With more than 15,000 participants expected at the event, the initiative positions Nuevo Leon's SMEs as potential beneficiaries of Mexico's broader shift toward regional sourcing, while giving large manufacturers additional opportunities to develop local suppliers and strengthen supply-chain resilience.