Mexico’s footwear industry has expressed support for the recent imposition of compensatory duties on products originating from China, considering them a mechanism to balance competition in the sector and safeguard jobs that have been affected in recent years.
The Ministry of Economy issued a decree establishing compensatory duties ranging from $0.54 to $22.5 per pair of footwear, depending on the import value. According to the ministry, the measure stems from an investigation launched in 2024, which presented evidence and technical studies showing negative effects on domestic production, market share, and profit margins.
Official data indicates that between 2018 and 2025, more than 22,000 jobs were lost in the footwear industry due to unfair trade practices. Economic authorities stated that the measure aims to recover jobs and strengthen domestic production capacities.
Business representatives, such as the Footwear Industry Chamber of Guanajuato (CICEG) and the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin), agreed that the duties will allow fairer competition. In León, Guanajuato—the country’s main footwear-producing city—local authorities emphasized that the decision helps protect over 100,000 jobs and supports regional economic growth.
Authorities and business leaders highlighted that the next step will be to strengthen customs oversight and promote the consumption of locally made footwear in order to consolidate the industry’s growth in Mexico.
Source: Forbes México
