The United States and Mexico have built the strongest trade relationship in history, thanks to President Donald Trump’s United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a landmark deal that puts workers first and ensures that the U.S., with its neighboring countries, not China, leads the world.
Today, the U.S.-Mexico relationship is more critical than ever to securing a strong economic future, protecting the border, and strengthening America’s leadership. Trade with Mexico creates jobs in the U.S.: Every new factory job in Mexico creates another job in the U.S., and that link has only grown stronger since the pandemic. American competitiveness depends on a strong, secure Mexico.
Mexico is America’s most important consumer, bringing more money and opportunities to American workers than any other market. In 2024, Mexico bought $335 billion in U.S. goods, 2.3 times more than China. In fact, Mexico and Canada together purchase more from the U.S. than the next 10 trading partners combined, including China, Germany, Japan, and others.
Mexico remains the biggest buyer of U.S. small business exports, the backbone of the American economy. Mexican consumers buy more than $110 billion in U.S. small business exports alone, more than double what China buys, and more than Japan, South Korea, India, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany combined. That translates to real jobs, real paychecks, and real prosperity in American communities. On a per capita basis, Mexicans and Canadians spend over $4,000 annually on U.S. goods, while Chinese consumers spend just $100. This is no accident; it’s proof that Trump’s USMCA works.
Mexico enables America to compete against China and win. Partnering with Mexico to produce intermediate goods is a strategic asset for U.S. economic resilience, national security, and industrial leadership. American manufacturers, especially in autos, electronics, and agriculture, depend on this regional model, keeping design, research and development, and value creation in the U.S., while using Mexico as a trusted partner for portions of assembly or logistics.
Everything made in Mexico is full of American parts, and Mexican components are 10 times more significant in U.S. exports than Chinese ones. When you buy Mexican-made, you’re still buying American. That’s why deepening the U.S. ties with Mexico reduces dependence on unreliable suppliers, strengthens supply chains, and keeps America strong.
A strong trade alliance with Mexico also means a more secure border. American companies, like Constellation Brands, the beverage company behind brands such as Modelo, invest millions to protect their workers and livelihoods on both sides of the border. For example, they partner with Mexican authorities to secure rail lines, ports, and shipping lanes that move billions of dollars in U.S. goods annually.
The Mexican government’s renewed, collaborative approach has achieved the lowest level of illegal crossings in 30 years. In June 2025, Customs and Border Protection recorded the lowest number of nationwide encounters, nearly 90% lower than the 2021–2024 average, thanks in part to strong Mexican enforcement. Between May 2024 and March 2025, Mexican authorities recorded more monthly encounters at the border than even the U.S. Border Patrol.
Mexico has also increased fentanyl seizures dramatically. Since February 2025, Mexican authorities have confiscated nearly 258 kilograms of fentanyl, enough to prevent over 120 million lethal doses from reaching American communities.
This is real progress, made possible by strong U.S.-Mexico cooperation and a clear commitment from the Mexican government to yield positive results. Business leaders see daily how a safer, stronger Mexico benefits American workers, truckers, farmers, and families.
Our region’s challenges are real and undeniable, and we recognize them in Mexico. The private sector is deeply concerned about security, competitiveness, and governance issues, and we are ready to do everything we can to help address them, because our businesses operate on both sides of the border and understand what’s at stake.
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The path forward is not isolation, but collaboration. The real threats to America’s national security and economic prosperity come from outside North America, and we can only confront them by aligning our efforts, competing as one, and solving shared problems with shared solutions.
As the USMCA review approaches, we have a historic opportunity to strengthen this proven partnership. This trade deal created the strongest economic bloc to outcompete China, keep jobs in America, and secure our regional prosperity. When Mexico is part of the equation, America is stronger, more competitive, and better positioned to lead. Working with Mexico isn’t just smart policy, it’s the America-first choice.
Pedro Casas-Alatriste is the Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico
