If the 25 percent tariffs on all imported products from Mexico announced by U.S. President Donald Trump are maintained next month, it will have a significant impact on the state of Nuevo León, according to Sergio Reséndez, director of Colliers Monterrey. Reséndez pointed out that, although the tariffs could discourage foreign investment in the region, the current exchange rate has partially offset this measure. However, the automotive sector would be the most affected, given its key position in the economy and its integration into the supply chain.
Sergio Reséndez also mentioned that if the tariffs are maintained for a long time, they could have a lasting impact on the industrial real estate market of Nuevo León. Although he believes this effect would be temporary, pending concrete actions from the government regarding immigration and drug trafficking issues. Regarding the tariffs, Reséndez emphasized: "This level of tariffs is worse than expected, as it was initially anticipated that they would be selective and not cover all Mexican products."
Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base, explained that the impact of Trump's tariffs will not be uniform across the Mexican economy. The most affected states will be those that rely more heavily on exports to the United States, such as Nuevo León, where almost half of the GDP comes from exports. This scenario could negatively affect the region's economic growth and discourage both new investments and the retention of existing ones.
On the other hand, Jorge Moreno, professor at the Faculty of Economics of UANL, mentioned that the tariffs will lead to an increase in prices of Mexican products in the United States, which will contribute to inflation in that country. Moreno highlighted that sectors such as automobile manufacturing, as well as primary products like vegetables, fruits, legumes, steel, and cement, will be the most affected by these tariff measures.
In light of this scenario, foreign investment in Nuevo León is expected to be affected and redirected toward other regions of the world, such as Europe and Asia. Moreno warned that Nuevo León's competitiveness will be diminished due to the loss of attractiveness for companies looking to establish themselves near the United States. In summary, the uncertainty generated by Trump's tariffs will affect various economic sectors and will require actions by the Mexican government to counteract their effects.
