Mexico Prepares 2026 Tariff Reform Amid Global Uncertainty

Mexico is preparing a comprehensive revision of its tariff policy for 2026, though the scope and pace of the changes will depend on how the trade tensions between the United States and China unfold.

“Next year, we will have to adjust several aspects of our tariff framework depending on how the global landscape develops. We still do not know what agreement the United States and China might reach, and that will be crucial since it involves most of the world’s trade,” said Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard. He emphasized that President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration aims to keep Mexico in the strongest and most competitive position on the global stage.

In early September, the Ministry of Economy proposed, as part of the 2026 Economic Package, raising tariffs on 1,463 tariff lines. However, the Chamber of Deputies postponed the vote until November to integrate feedback from the private sector. The reform seeks to reduce Mexico’s widening trade deficit and shield domestic industries from low-cost imports.

USMCA Review
Ebrard acknowledged that the upcoming USMCA review will be “complex,” with sensitive issues still on the table, but affirmed that Mexico and Washington continue to maintain a solid understanding. He noted that around 80% of the ongoing talks are technical, focused on data analysis and impact modeling, which, in his view, increases the chances of reaching an agreement before year-end.

“There is still a long way to go, and yes, the review will be difficult. But the good news is that the treaty will prevail,” he said.

Judith Garza, President, Concamin’s Commission on Foreign Trade and International Affairs, warned that the global economic realignment could open “new fronts for review,” and stressed the need for the private sector to conduct a deeper and more strategic analysis to determine which industries might be most affected.

“That precise, targeted assessment must begin now to identify sectors not yet covered by the plan. The industrial sector must analyze its own data and develop strategies to align with the government’s approach,” she concluded.