Who is the Consejo Nacional de la Industria Manufacturera de Exportación (Index)?
The Consejo Nacional de la Industria Manufacturera de Exportación, or Index, is a prominent organization representing Mexico’s manufacturing sector focused on exports. Led by its president, Humberto Martínez Cantú, Index plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration between Mexican and U.S. industries.
What is the IMMEX Program?
The Importación Temporal (IMMEX) program allows manufacturers and service providers to temporarily import goods without paying general import taxes or anti-dumping/countervailing duties. These goods are then used for the production of export-ready products, enhancing competitiveness and job creation in both Mexico and the United States.
Index’s Advocacy in Washington, D.C.
During a working visit to Washington, D.C., Index’s delegation, headed by Humberto Martínez Cantú, met with U.S. counterparts to discuss the IMMEX program’s oversight within the T-MEC review process. The delegation presented a short, medium, and long-term strategy for the export manufacturing sector, emphasizing their commitment to strengthening Mexico-U.S. integration and preparing for the upcoming T-MEC revision.
Key Messages and Collaboration
Index conveyed the importance of industry’s role in regional and global trade, stressing the need for closer ties with U.S. peers to bolster trust, attract investments, create jobs, and enhance the competitiveness of export-oriented companies in both countries.
- Collaboration with Governments: Index expressed its readiness to collaborate constructively with the U.S. and Mexican governments to strengthen IMMEX program oversight, address legal gaps, and design solutions that improve competitiveness and supply chain security in North America.
- Trade Relations with Asia: Index emphasized the necessity of regional coordination for any decoupling from Asian trade, as increased North American integration is key to reducing the U.S. trade deficit with China.
- Role of Index Members: Index members are vital in replacing Asian inputs with regional suppliers, promoting U.S. manufacturing employment.
Delegation Composition
The Mexican delegation from Index included Humberto Martínez Cantú, Felipe Villarreal (Index Nuevo León), René Espinosa (Index Chihuahua), Salvador Maese (Index Mexicali), Sergio Gómez Lora (Index USA), Jael Durán, Israel Morales, Javier Ortíz, Alejandro Lara, Sergio Ramos, Alonso Pedrero, Luis Aguirre, and Fernanda Padilla.
From the U.S. side, representatives from CBP, Caterpillar, Cummins, Business Roundtable, Medline, Eaton, labor and commerce department authorities, USTR, the National Manufacturers Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce participated.
Recognizing the significance of public-private unity, Index reinforced its presence with interventions from Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S., Esteban Moctezuma; Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez, Mexico’s undersecretary of trade externals; and Ernesto Acevedo, head of the Washington Economy Office.
