Tariff fluctuations are exerting pressure on cross-border trucking operations. Following the IRU's North American Transportation Forum in Washington, DC, the Mexican government engaged Senior Adviser Martin Rojas to examine tariff policy impacts on regional supply chains. The IRU participated in a tariff-focused event hosted by Mexico's Ministry of Trade and the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC, United States.
Participants analyzed the potential effects of US and retaliatory tariffs on North American trade, emphasizing the region's integrated supply chains and freight flows. Mexico's Ambassador, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, emphasized the need for industry leaders and economic sectors to address trade challenges posed by tariffs.
Presentations from academics and trade policy experts provided insights into international trade complexities. Industry representatives and officials from Mexico's Ministry of Trade and the Mexican Embassy discussed tariff impacts on trucking. IRU's Senior Adviser for the Americas, Martin Rojas, stated, "Cross-border trucking operations, a key component of North American supply chains, have continued to meet customer transport needs despite an uncertain and volatile operating environment that now includes tariff fluctuations. It's a very tense operational environment!"
Rojas noted, "Trucking companies are also concerned about the direct impact of tariffs, such as those on steel and aluminium, on their capital expenditures for fleet modernization, as higher material costs drive up the price of new commercial vehicles."
Participants called for urgent action and highlighted the importance of revising the USMCA, prioritizing tariff negotiations to strengthen commercial ties and mitigate trade dispute impacts. Luis Rosendo Gutierrez, Mexico's Under Secretary for Trade, encouraged sharing success stories and highlighted the integrated supply chains' role in regional prosperity. The event emphasized collaboration and dialogue to secure North American trade.
Source: IRU