Razed smuggling with 80 thousand jobs in the textile industry

The illegal entry of clothing of Asian origin has impacted the textile industry with the loss of 80 thousand jobs, among other effects. However, with the impulse of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the sector is in the process of recovering what was 20 years ago, said Rafael Zaga Saba, president of the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex).

In an interview with The daythe business leader commented that in recent years Asian imports went from 22 to 65 percent of total total purchases abroad.

A couple of decades ago we represented 3.6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) manufacturing and closed 2024 with 1.8 percentaccurate.

At the beginning of this month, President Sheinbaum considered that the massive entry of textiles and footwear in recent years, mainly from China, modified the economic structure of the Bajío, particularly of Guanajuato, and that the decline of these activities was related to an increase in violence in the region.

In the most recent history, as a result of the importation of merchandise below its real cost from Asia or Undervalue, as well as abuse of the manufacturing, maquiladora and export services program (IMMEX), in the last quarter of last year the industry added eight consecutive periods in negative, according to data from the sector.

“We are not only competing against an economy that has dumpingsubsidies, forced labor and child labor in the cotton fields, but also have an issue in terms of technical smuggling and bronco smuggling, ”said Zaga Saba.

All these ways of doing business have displaced the textile industry and national preparationhe said.

“Very closely, this government and the new administration – which does not take so long – has seen the textile and clothing industry as one of its strategic industries.

When we see that this industry is displaced by Asian imports, President Sheinbaum Pardo places us as one of the seven strategic industries of the country in the Mexico Planhe insisted.

He pointed out that this sector fits perfectly In this strategy, because it can replace Asian imports with products made in Mexico, with a national content of up to 100 percent. We sow the seed in Chihuahua and we can sell more than 120 million Mexicans that we are. We have all the potential to grow. However, we need the core and important part of our customs.

The president of the Canaintex considered that the decree issued in December to increase tariffs up to 35 percent to clothing that are illegally in the country to be sold and avoid the abuse of the export incentives program or IMMEX, Level the court a little moretogether with the Mexico Plan, can Take forward quickly To the sector, then It is an industry that is thirst and hungry to grow, to invest again and to be what we were again.

After remembering that it generates a million 100 thousand jobs – feel of every 10 for women – clarified that it is important to reinforce customs to attack the smuggling and close the lock with everything that has been done since the Ministry of Economy (SE), the Tax Administration Service (SAT) and the Presidency of the Republic.

He mentioned that two out of three garments – players, shirts, pants, blouses and pajamas, among others – in the Mexican market are undervalued or illegally imported products, without counting fabrics, in particular denim, and threads in the same situation.

He commented that before the arrival of Rafael Marín Mollinedo to the National Customs Agency, the employers of the sector expect take this challengewhich becomes one of the main this year.

Zaga Saba confirmed that it works with the National Council of the Export Manufacturing Industry (Index) and link meetings will be held to offer textile products to the country’s maquiladora, all this in the context of the changes that will be made to the IMMEX, with which the program will correctly operate and under efficient control to avoid abuse.

We are ready to the call of Secretary Ebrard and we will go all companies to demonstrate that what is done in Mexico is well done, which is of high quality and competitiveness.

He noted that the country has to turn to its domestic market, although it also acknowledged that there is uncertainty for tariffs that the United States seeks to impose.

It is a bit difficult to predict what will happen, because on April 2 the game paints for all, some country can have an advantage and another a disadvantage. We will not necessarily be like we were as we werehe said.