So far, neither the Secretariat of Economy nor its head, Marcelo Ebrard, have made a statement regarding Ecuador's tariffs, as they did with Donald Trump's threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Mexico.
Mexico's trade relations with Ecuador worsened following the diplomatic conflict that 'erupted' due to the invasion of Ecuadorian police at the Mexican embassy in Quito, according to Gerardo Tajonar, national president of the National Association of Importers and Exporters of the Mexican Republic (ANIERM).
Tajonar explained that negotiations for a possible free trade agreement had been abandoned by the decision of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The current trade policy of the Mexican government favors Mexican banana and shrimp producers, which concerns Mexican exporters. This has affected Ecuador's international trade, leaving it out of the Pacific Alliance.
In 2023, Mexico's exports to Ecuador reached 595 million dollars, highlighting pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, machinery, vehicles, and their parts. On the other hand, imports from Ecuador amounted to 228 million dollars, with cocoa beans being the main purchase. This generated a surplus of 368 million dollars in favor of Mexico.
Ecuador's president, Daniel Noboa, announced a 27 percent tariff on Mexican exports in response to this situation. Noboa expressed the willingness to sign a Free Trade Agreement with Mexico, but until this is finalized, the tariff will be applied to imported products.
