Foreign direct investment in Baja California is expected to ease after learning that Mexico will be exempt from reciprocal tariffs with the United States, asserted the president of the Tijuana Business Coordinating Council (CCE). First, Roberto Lyle Fritch noted that Donald Trump's announcement of reciprocal tariffs internationally is "historic," since, in his view, it shows that a global trade war is imminent.
As for Mexico, he considered it to be in a good position by not being included in this tariff scheme, being one of the few countries that will not be penalized with regard to general tariffs and products included in the USMCA. However, he did not forget that tariffs of 25% on steel, 25% on aluminum, and 25% on textiles are still in effect, which he described as pressure measures to force the Federal Government to work in other areas. He explained that foreign direct investment in Baja California, which is currently slowed, amounts to 260 million pesos due to two situations: judicial reform and tariff uncertainty, which impacted the decision-making process. Lyle Fritch commented that not being subject to reciprocal tariffs, but also having the possibility of reducing or eliminating current tariffs, will allow for a reduction in foreign investment pressure for the state.