Fewer crossings, higher value: How Mexico’s trade adapted after U.S. tariffs

Foreign trade between Mexico and the United States did not stall in 2025 after new U.S. tariffs took effect — but it did fundamentally change how business moves across the border.

Customs operators say trade adjusted toward fewer border crossings, heavier regulatory requirements, and higher-value transactions, a shift driven largely by tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act and stricter compliance enforcement.

“Volumes or the number of operations may have declined, but value increased,” said Jorge Torres, president of Interlink Trade Services. “There are fewer crossings, but larger transactions.”

Torres has more than three decades of experience in foreign trade. Interlink Trade Services operates logistics facilities in the Rio Grande Valley, with warehouses in McAllen, Pharr, and Brownsville, and handles customs clearance at all U.S. ports of entry.