Mexico remains the US's main trading partner

Despite tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, Mexico consolidated its position as the United States' main trading partner in the first half of 2025.

The volume of Mexican exports also keeps Mexico as the most important supplier to the US market.

From January to June, the US purchased $264 billion worth of Mexican products, representing 15% of total imports.

This figure leaves our country far behind in second and third place, as 11.2% of the United States' imports in the first half of this year came from Canada and 9.5% from China.

In those six months of this year, the U.S. economy exported and imported $2.843 billion worldwide, of which $432.6 billion was traded with Mexico.

This exchange of goods occurs despite the 25% tariff the White House imposed on Mexican products since March 4 that do not comply with the rules of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

As well as the 50% tariff levied on steel and aluminum since June 4, and the 25% tariff levied on 60% of automobiles exported by Mexico.

However, the country with the largest trade deficit with the United States is China, at $111.5 billion. Mexico is in second place, at $96 billion. Ireland, the fourth-largest supplier of goods, is in second place, at $82 billion. Vietnam, the fifth-largest supplier of goods to the United States, is in second place, at $81 billion.

Despite these figures, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) warned that the Mexican economy will maintain weak growth in 2026, estimated to reach just 1%, less than half the average rate for Latin America.

ECLAC warns that Mexico will be among the four countries with the lowest growth in the region next year, along with Bolivia (1.1%); Cuba (0.1%); and Haiti (-1%).

"In Central America and Mexico, projected growth for 2025 is 1.0%, almost half of the 1.8% expansion recorded in 2024, due to weakening external demand, especially from the United States," warns ECLAC.

The Universal

Gross fixed investment in the country declines

Gross fixed investment in Mexico fell 7.1% year-over-year in May, marking nine consecutive months of annual decline, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography ( INEGI ) reported, as uncertainty continues over trade measures adopted by the United States.

This figure for the fifth month of 2025 was the result of a 10.3% annual contraction in machinery and equipment and a 4.3% annual contraction in construction, the institute detailed based on original figures.

Private investment fell 4.9% year-on-year, and public investment plummeted 25.8%.

On the other hand, investment rose 0.9% in May compared to the previous month, according to seasonally adjusted data.

This was due to a 1.4% monthly increase in construction, although machinery and equipment remained unchanged compared to the previous month.

Gross fixed investment provides an understanding of short-term investment behavior, according to INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Census), and is comprised of assets used in the production process for more than one year.

CT