Tariff volatility is putting increasing pressure on cross-border trucking operations. Following IRU’s North American Transportation Forum Dialogue with industry leaders last month in Washington, DC, the Mexican government invited Senior Adviser Martin Rojas to further explore the impact of tariff policies on the region’s supply chains.
IRU took part in a recent event on tariffs, hosted by Mexico’s Ministry of Trade and the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC, United States.
Participants examined the potential impact of US and retaliatory tariffs on North American trade, with a particular focus on the region’s highly integrated supply chains and cross-border freight flows.
Mexico's Ambassador, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, opened the meeting by stressing the need to unite industry leaders and economic sectors to address the current state of trade and the challenges posed by tariffs.
Presentations by leading academics and trade policy experts from think tanks offered insights into the complexities of international trade. Following these presentations, industry representatives, as well as sectoral representatives from Mexico’s Ministry of Trade and the Mexican Embassy, further discussed the effects of tariffs on trucking.
Speaking at the event, IRU’s Senior Adviser for the Americas Martin Rojas said, “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!"
"Trucking companies are also concerned about the direct impact of tariffs, such as those on steel and aluminium, on their capital expenditures for fleet modernisation, as higher material costs drive up the price of new commercial vehicles,” he added.
Participants agreed that urgent action is needed. They also highlighted the importance of beginning discussions to revise the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with tariff negotiations as a top priority. This will help ensure that North American trading partners can fortify their commercial ties and mitigate any negative consequences stemming from regional trade disputes.
Luis Rosendo Gutierrez, Mexico’s Under Secretary for Trade, closed the event by encouraging participants to share success stories and explain how they have benefited from growing North American trade volumes. He highlighted the key role of integrated supply chains in driving regional prosperity.
The event underscored the importance of collaboration and timely dialogue to safeguard the future of North American trade and foster stronger economic relationships across the continent.
Last month, CEOs and senior figures from 30 American, Canadian and Mexican trucking companies met in Washington D.C. to discuss cross-border challenges at IRU’s first North American Transportation Forum Leadership Dialogue. The dialogue was hosted by IRU member the American Trucking Associations in partnership with members CANACAR and the Canadian Trucking Alliance.