Mexico will ban tariff-free imports of finished footwear to protect the domestic industry.

The Mexican government is preparing a decree that will prohibit the import of finished footwear under the temporary IMMEX program, which currently allows imports of goods without paying tariffs.

Marcelo Ebrard, head of the Ministry of Economy, announced the measure from León, Guanajuato, the country's footwear-producing center, emphasizing that this decision responds to abuses and simulations that have affected the local industry, which generates more than 120,000 direct jobs.

Ebrard explained that between 2019 and 2024, national production fell 12.8%, mainly due to the entry of foreign footwear that doesn't pay VAT and ends up in the domestic market without being exported.

President Claudia Sheinbaum instructed the imposition of a tariff of at least 25% on imports to level the playing field against international competition. “Enough is enough… Do you want to import? Pay the taxes,” the official emphasized.