Mexico increases import tariffs for non-Free Trade Agreement countries

Mexico increases import tariffs for non-Free Trade Agreement countries

México aumenta los aranceles a la importación de países con los que no tiene celebrados Tratados de Libre Comercio

The August 15, 2023 Mexican Federal Official Gazette contains a Presidential Decree (the Decree) that for the following two years -August 16, 2023 through July 31, 2025-, increases import duties in the range of 5% to 25% to non-Free Trade Agreement countries’ goods (Mexico has Free Trade Agreements with 50 countries, including most of its largest trading partners).

The Decree covers 392 tariff lines dealing with a variety of goods, including steel and aluminum, autoparts, chemicals, glass, electric material, among others. Over half of such tariff lines (219 of the 392) pertain to steel and steel products.

The stated objective of the Decree is to provide certainty and bring back fair market conditions to vulnerable sectors of the Mexican economy, allow the domestic industry’s recovery, and support the local market.

The Decree stops and even reverses the then ongoing tariff reductions for a number of products such as steel, textiles, garments and footwear. The Decree also states that it is maintaining reduced PROSEC import duties on 11 tariff lines, in order to prevent an impact on production chains dealing with the automotive and autoparts, electric, and electronic sectors.

Despite the upbeat message that the Decree intends to convey, the (likely negative) effects on a number of production chains -particularly those dealing with steel and steel products- are to be determined.

Individual companies should review the tariff lines included in the Decree, and evaluate whether they encompass inputs that they currently utilize and their country of origin (keep in mind that the Decree exclusively covers non-Free Trade Agreement countries), as well as whether any of your suppliers may be affected with the tariff increase, and if that may trigger the need to revise ongoing contractual obligations.

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La publicación del 15 de agosto de 2023 del Diario Oficial de la Federación contiene un Decreto Presidencial (el Decreto) por el que para los dos años siguientes -del 16 de agosto de 2023 al 31 de julio de 2025-, aumenta los aranceles a la importación en un rango de 5% a 25% a mercancías de países con los que México no tiene celebrados Tratados de Libre Comercio (México cuenta con Tratados de Libre Comercio con 50 países, incluyendo la mayoría de sus principales socios comerciales).

El Decreto incluye 392 fracciones arancelarias de diversos productos, como acero y aluminio, autopartes, productos químicos, vidrio y material eléctrico, entre otros. Más de la mitad de dichas tarifas arancelarias (219 de las 392) corresponden a acero y productos siderúrgicos.

El Decreto señala que su finalidad es proporcionar certidumbre y restablecer condiciones leales de mercado para los sectores más sensibles de la economía mexicana, permitir la recuperación de la industria nacional y apoyar el mercado local.

El Decreto detiene e incluso revierte las reducciones arancelarias entonces vigentes para una serie de productos como el acero, textiles, prendas de vestir y calzado. También señala que se mantienen los beneficios de reducción arancelaria a 11 fracciones incluidas en los PROSEC, con el fin de evitar un impacto en las cadenas de producción relacionadas con los sectores automotriz y de autopartes, eléctrico y electrónico.

Pese al mensaje optimista que el Decreto pretende transmitir, los efectos (probablemente negativos) sobre una serie de cadenas de producción -particularmente las relacionadas con el acero y los productos siderúrgicos- están por determinarse.

Las empresas deberán analizar las fracciones arancelarias incluidas en el Decreto y determinar si aplican a los productos que utilizan actualmente, así como su país de origen (recordemos que el Decreto comprende exclusivamente a los países que no son parte de algún Tratado de Libre Comercio con México), así como si alguno de sus proveedores puede verse afectado por el incremento arancelario, y si ello puede dar lugar a la necesidad de evaluar las obligaciones contractuales en curso.

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