As Donald Trump announces plans to impose tariffs, the Mexican textile-apparel and footwear industry doubts their implementation. The National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex) argues that the complementarity of sectors in both countries makes such operation unfeasible.
Industry Leaders Prepare for Potential Tariffs
Although business leaders are prepared for any eventuality, they find it hard to imagine tariffs in their sectors. However, if imposed, it would be “disruptive” to the industry, according to Canaintex President Rafael Zaga.
- Complementary Nature of Industries: Both Mexico and the US are highly integrated in North America. In the textile-apparel sector, they are complementary rather than competitive. 53% of US textile exports go mainly to Mexico.
- Dependency on Supplies: The US supplies high-tech fibers, filaments, yarns, and even raw materials from the field to Mexico for conversion into garments, which are then returned to the US. This mutual dependency makes tariffs difficult.
Despite Trump’s announcement not specifying the target of the tariffs, industry leaders believe they would struggle to apply or sustain in their sectors due to this North American integration.
