27 Aug Nearshoring 3.0

In recent years, nearshoring and friendshoring have positioned Mexico as a strategic partner for US industry. However, the new vision of “Nearshoring 3.0” promoted by the United States requires companies to relocate their production directly to North American territory. This policy, driven by political and electoral interests, represents a direct risk for Mexico, especially for the automotive industry, one of the pillars of the national economy.

The pressure is evident: tariffs on steel, copper, and aluminum, coupled with the reclassification of auto parts, have hit Mexican competitiveness. The most recent example is the relocation of the Nissan Civac plant in Morelos to Aguascalientes, which entails the loss of more than 2,500 jobs and creates uncertainty about their continued existence in the country. This comes on top of the global production reduction announced by the automaker, which worsens the local effects on an industry that represents 31% of Mexican exports to the United States.

Given this scenario, Mexico faces the challenge of redefining its industrial policy with a comprehensive, long-term vision. It must not only protect affected workers and support the states affected by these relocations, but also leverage its advantage as a qualified auto parts supplier. Otherwise, the country risks being left behind in the transition to a 4.0 Industrial Policy model, where decent employment and competitiveness must be the central focus.

Source: 

https://lasillarota.com/opinion/columnas/2025/8/5/nearshoring-30-548886.html