Earlier this year, when Trump started raising tariffs, Mexican government officials and economists were worried that Mexico's export-oriented economy would suffer a devastating blow. However, the fact is that Mexico's exports to the US did not decline but increased. According to data from the Mexican government, despite high tariffs on cars, steel, and aluminum products exported to the US, Mexico's manufacturing exports to the US grew by nearly 9% from January to November this year compared to the same period in 2024. Among them, the export of the automotive industry to the US fell by nearly 6%, but the export of other manufactured goods increased by as much as 17%. The volume of goods trade between the US and Mexico is expected to approach $900 billion this year, setting a new historical record. Due to the tariff rates ultimately applied to Mexico being lower than those applied to most other countries, this gap has helped Mexican exports fill some market gaps left by Chinese goods subjected to higher tariffs. In mid-December, U.S. Trade Representative Griles said that Mexico had absorbed about 25% of the reduction in the U.S.-China trade deficit, and this change indicates that "Mexico plays an important role in building the resilience of the U.S. supply chain." Producers seeking to establish themselves in the U.S. market say that Mexico still retains all the inherent advantages it had before the tariffs were introduced - proximity to the United States, a highly integrated regional manufacturing system, a large, young, and low-cost labor force, and a free trade agreement with Mexico that, although damaged, still exists.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852725099981130/
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