Mexico Raises Tariffs On Textile And Apparel Imports
On December 19, Mexico announced a significant tariff increase on textile and apparel imports, with rates of up to 35%. The new tariffs will take effect on December 20, 2024, and remain in place until April 23, 2026. The move aims to address unfair competition impacting Mexico’s textile and apparel industry, which has been affected by low-cost imports from non-FTA countries.
The updated measure imposes a 35% import duty on 138 tariff lines for garment products and a 15% import duty on 17 tariff lines for textile products. Products originating from Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries, such as those under the USMCA, remain exempt from these increases. This follows a broader tariff hike on April 22, 2024, which raised duties on 544 tariff lines to between 5% and 50%.
In addition to the tariff increases, the announcement introduces changes to the IMMEX program. The list of products excluded from importation under IMMEX—a program allowing duty deferral for manufacturers and maquila operations—has been expanded. Furthermore, the list of products requiring compliance with specific import requirements under IMMEX has also been updated.
The government emphasizes that these measures are intended to strengthen the domestic textile and apparel industry by mitigating the effects of unfair trade practices.
