Guanajuato Footwear Sector Backs Customs Law Reform

The , alongside national business chambers, expressed its support for the Customs Law Reform presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo as part of the 2026 Economic Package. The initiative aims to strengthen legality in foreign trade, combat tax evasion and smuggling, and protect formal employment in key industries such as footwear, steel, textiles, apparel, and agro-industry.

Among the organizations endorsing the proposal are the Chamber of the Footwear Industry of the State of Guanajuato (CICEG), the National Chamber of the Sugar Industry (CNIAA), the National Chamber of the Iron and Steel Industry (CANACERO), the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (CANAINTEX), and the National Chamber of the Apparel Industry (CANAIVE).

According to the industrial chambers, the new Customs Law will equip authorities with effective tools to confront illegal practices at customs and ensure a fair and competitive market.

Trade openness, under clear rules and controls, has been essential for the country’s economic growth. However, productive sectors have indicated that a lack of order and transparency has adversely affected fair competition and formal investment.

The reform seeks to modernize customs regulation to align Mexico with international standards and commitments undertaken in free trade agreements, particularly within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Furthermore, the proposal integrates with the pillars of Plan Mexico, a strategy that promotes sustainable industrialization, investment attraction, and the creation of quality employment.

The Guanajuato footwear sector, one of the most emblematic in Mexican manufacturing, faces increasing pressure from imports and sustained declines in national production.

According to , the sector employs 97,962 workers, although it has lost nearly 3,000 jobs in the last year.

In the second quarter of 2025, the GDP of the footwear sector amounted to 14,685 million pesos, representing an annual decline of -9.3%.

National installed capacity decreased to 59.2%, while imports increased 11.6% annually, reaching 114 million pairs, compared to 21 million pairs exported.

Support for the reform comes from the country’s main industrial sectors, which emphasize its cross-cutting impact on employment, investment, and competitiveness: