Manufacturing Associations in the U.S. and Mexico On Tariffs and Trade
By Daniel Domsky
Trade and tariff negotiations continue between the Trump Administration and the rest of the world. But U.S. and Mexican manufacturing industry associations agree on one thing: tariffs are not the path forward. These powerful industry associations want a reduction in the levying of trade restrictions and tariffs.
National Association of Manufacturers
In the U.S., the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) voiced concerns that the proposed tariff regime would hurt American manufacturers. NAM is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing over 13 million American manufacturing workers. NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons warned that while President Trump’s goals may be well-intended, the economic consequences are real and immediate. He indicated that the increased cost of tariffs would raise costs and hurt the U.S.’s ability to compete globally in manufacturing.
Additionally, NAM’s Q1 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey reflects the sentiment voiced by NAM’s CEO. At 76.2%, trade uncertainty emerged as the top concern for U.S. manufacturers, up 20 points from just a quarter earlier. Rising raw material costs have also become a key concern, with over 60% of manufacturers surveyed citing it as their second most pressing concern. Many of these manufacturers depend on foreign parts and raw materials. Finally, nearly 9 in 10 small and medium-sized manufacturers say they may have to raise prices, and one-third are considering slowing hiring due to tariff-related pressures.
Image Source: https://documents.nam.org/COMM/Tariff_One_Pager_2025.pdf
Mexico – CONCAMIN and CANACINTRA
As for the Mexican perspective on U.S. tariffs, the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States (CONCAMIN) has issued a more concerned response. CONCAMIN is one of the largest Mexican business associations, and represents companies that make up around 30 percent of Mexico’s Gross Domestic Product. The organization’s President, Alejandro Malagón Barragán, emphasized the dependency that Mexican manufacturers have on the U.S. market. He warned that the tariffs represent a major concern across Mexico’s industrial sector for the economic and labor stability risk that they pose. Malagón stressed, adding that any disruption to cross-border industrial flows could jeopardize jobs in manufacturing-heavy regions where US-Mexico supply chains are deeply integrated.
The other large association that deals with Mexican manufacturers, the National Chamber of the Transformation Industry (CANACINTRA), shares many of CONCAMIN’s concerns. CANACINTRA is the largest industrial group in Mexico with over 37 thousand partners. President Esperanza Ortega affirmed that while the chamber backs peaceful negotiation, it would support reciprocal tariffs if necessary.
CANACINTRA also raised concerns about compounded pressures on industry. Ortega warned that many companies had rushed exports ahead of the tariffs, leading to temporary overproduction and now reduced shifts. CANCINTRA also raised concerns that increased trade instability could stall economic growth. This fear is especially pressing as Mexico shifts its internal policies, such as reducing the workweek from 48 to 40 hours.
Three Agree
Still, all three manufacturing associations agree that stability is at the core of North American manufacturing growth. They recognize that global trade integration is key to the economic success of the firms they represent. As tariff negotiations continue to disrupt trade integration, the message of these associations serves as a reminder that a closed-off economy is not the solution for long-term prosperity in North America.
