Background on Joao Carapeto and AMID
Joao Carapeto, the newly elected president of the Asociación Mexicana de Industrias Innovadoras de Dispositivos Médicos (AMID), is advocating for the integration of medical device supply chains between Mexico and the United States during the upcoming review of the Tratado entre México, Estados Unidos y Canadá (T-MEC) in 2026.
AMID represents a crucial sector in Mexico’s economy, with medical device manufacturing generating over 130,000 direct jobs and contributing to an annual production of $15 billion. The industry covers more than 90 clinical specialties, making it a significant player in both economic growth and public health.
Interconnected Supply Chains: A Key Advantage
Carapeto emphasized the importance of highlighting the interconnectedness between Mexico and the United States in the supply chain for medical devices, which is vital for a win-win situation during the T-MEC review.
- Export Dependence: 90% of Mexico’s medical device exports, valued at approximately $15 billion annually, are destined for the United States.
- Import Reliance: 60% of the medical device sector’s imports in the US come from Mexico.
- Supply Chain Complexity: The strong integration of supply chains between Mexico and the US makes it challenging to calculate the national content of medical devices, as components may cross the border multiple times before becoming a finished product.
Leveraging Interconnectedness for Regional Competitiveness
Carapeto stressed that the interconnectedness should be utilized during the T-MEC review to not only strengthen supply chains but also maintain the region’s competitiveness against other economic blocs.
“We want to ensure it’s a win-win situation, where we can develop investments without the US viewing this as competition from Mexico but rather as competition with other economic blocs,” he said.
T-MEC Review and Potential Changes
The T-MEC review was initially scheduled for July 2026, but it might be advanced to this second half of the year due to US tariff pressures, as reported by Mexico’s Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard.
Carapeto mentioned that AMID is already collaborating with the Secretaría de Economía to outline their participation in these dialogue tables.
Impact of Tariff Wars
Since March 4, 2025, a 25% tariff has been applied to products not complying with T-MEC rules of origin. However, the medical device sector has experienced minimal impact due to negotiations by the Secretaría de Economía.
Exploring New Markets
AMID sees opportunities for diversification into markets like the European Union and Latin America, which currently account for less than 10% of their exports due to the strong dependence on the US market.
Mexico has numerous trade agreements that can aid in expanding medical device exports to other markets, according to Carapeto.
Strengthening Collaboration with the Federal Government
Carapeto highlighted AMID’s efforts to bolster collaboration with the federal government under the Plan México framework, recognizing medical devices as a significant sector for economic growth and public health.
