North American Leaders’ Summit 2023: The Importance of Manufacturing in Mexico

By Alejandro Lara Cruz | Board Member at American Industries Group®
Published 02/07/2023

On January 9-10, 2023, United States President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico City for the 10th North American Leaders’ Summit or NALS. The Summit, which resumed this year after a 5-year hiatus, provides a forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the three countries and provides a venue for the countries to create a coordinated approach to the development of trade policies that promote competitiveness, innovation, supply chain agility and resilience, and investment.

Economic interdependence and regional integration have made North America more competitive internationally. An increase in reshoring and nearshoring from Asia continues to solidify the region’s place as an economic powerhouse. Since the adoption of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, which was renegotiated as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2020, the North American trade bloc has grown to represent a third of global GDP.

During this time, manufacturing in Mexico has grown steadily, playing a pivotal role in the domestic and regional economies due to the variety of benefits it offers, including the country’s trained and affordable labor force. The sector grew by 30% in just the first nine months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, with one of the most important industries being the automotive and auto parts industry. Automotive manufacturers in Mexico are leading the way in supply chain regionalization and are poised to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the adoption of electric vehicle technologies and investments being made by semiconductor companies.

Three Decades of Trade Partnership Between the US, Canada, and Mexico

Three Decades of Trade Partnership Between the US, Canada, and Mexico

NAFTA was ground-breaking in that it established the world’s largest free trade area, which led to an increase in foreign investment in Mexico. Today, Mexico and Canada are the United States’ top trading partners, with Mexico being its top exporter of manufactured goods. NAFTA, and now the USMCA, have accelerated the pace of economic integration between the three countries, with the rapid development of manufacturing in Mexico as its main driving force.

The USMCA went into force in 2020 updating a variety of provisions and creating additional certainty for investors. Some of the updated provisions include a more robust investment framework granting more protection and transparency for businesses in Mexico, increased homogenization of regulatory frameworks to promote the seamless movement of goods across North America, streamlined mechanisms for labor disputes, as well as updated provisions for digital trade, anticorruption and the environment.

Manufacturing in Mexico and regional supply chains

As the most labor-rich and cost-efficient country in North America, Mexico has become especially attractive to foreign companies looking to set up or relocate manufacturing to serve the US market. In addition, it is the logical choice for companies looking to increase the transparency and agility of supply chains and improve logistics processes.

The country’s geographic location means 80% less shipping times and costs compared to China, and its well-developed, safe, and accessible network of air, land, and rail infrastructure means that companies have various options for transporting goods depending on what best meets their needs.

Mexico, serves as a springboard for firms looking to access cheaper production sources while utilizing the existing infrastructure already in place. This investment and development of its manufacturing industry over the last half-decade has had a positive effect on the entire region, encouraging shared economic growth, jobs, processes, and overall efficiency.

Importance of the automotive industry in Mexico

The industry is so crucial to trade in North America that several provisions were included in the USMCA aimed at ensuring long-term stability for automakers. These include allowing auto parts to move freely between the three countries and granting assurance that no new tariffs will be placed on vehicles imported from Mexico (or Canada). It will also encourage more smooth and integral supply chains across North America in the automotive industry.

This year’s Summit provided an occasion to discuss the importance of this industry and how to better leverage Mexico’s potential to benefit all three countries. This is particularly relevant in light of recent changes to the USMCA, with some of the most important modifications to rules of origin for the auto industry. Core parts must now use 75% regional content, which is an increase from 62.5% under NAFTA. This, and other geopolitical factors, such as recent disruptions in global supply chains and transport and container shortages, sparked significant growth in the automotive industry in Mexico. In 2022,12.1 billion dollars of investments were made in new projects, expansions, and acquisitions, representing a 185% increase from 2021.

Automotive industry in Mexico

Another significant opportunity for the automotive industry is the development of electric vehicles and components and semiconductors. Recently, the US congress approved legislation that will provide approximately 52 billion dollars of investment for the semiconductor industry through incentives for electric vehicles, batteries, and other products manufactured in North America. With these investments, industry is counting on having the necessary supply chain infrastructure in Mexico.

Continued growth in Mexico’s manufacturing ecosystem

The rapid expansion of nearshoring and allyshoring show just how far the country has advanced in recent years. This trend has led to an increase in the complexity of Mexico’s manufacturing ecosystem, including low-cost production, complex value chains, and an increasing number of suppliers, providing greater benefits for international companies’ and significant opportunities. Businesses gain access to specialized skills and services while at the same time leveraging their cost advantages.

The future of manufacturing in Mexico

At the Summit, the leaders discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation, bolster resilience, and promote innovation within the North American trading bloc. Notably, agreements were reached to encourage investment in Mexico’s manufacturing sector, particularly in the automotive industry, to capitalize on the country’s low-cost manufacturing capabilities and its proximity to its two North American neighbors. The leaders also agreed to continue to develop joint strategies to reduce regulatory barriers, enhance infrastructure, and improve intellectual property protections, all of which play an important role in Mexico’s success as a manufacturing center. One of the concrete agreements was to establish a joint committee aimed at planning and substituting imports in North America to make the region more self-sufficient.

Conclusion

The North American Leaders’ Summit in 2023 provided the ideal forum for the three leaders to raise the level of integration in the region and make progress on the most pressing issues affecting the three countries related to trade, investment, security, and climate change, among others. Though there is much work to be done, the agreements reached at the Summit demonstrate Mexico’s potential to contribute to North America’s stability and growth. It is clear that the opportunities created by labor costs, nearshoring, and allyshoring in Mexico provide an opportunity for each country to benefit from Mexico’s manufacturing capabilities. It is hoped that these agreements will be the catalyst for a new era of regional and prosperity and expansion.

Alejandro Lara Cruz

Board Member

American Industries Group®

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