14 Agreements. 52 Countries. One Manufacturing Base.

Mexico maintains 14 free trade agreements covering approximately 52 partner countries across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. These agreements provide preferential tariff treatment when goods meet the applicable rules of origin.

Both Mexico and the United States maintain 14 trade agreements. However, Mexico's agreements extend to 52 partner countries, compared with 20 for the United States. This broader geographic reach can expand preferential export options from a Mexico-based facility. For companies already operating in the United States, a Mexico facility can complement an existing U.S. footprint — expanding global market access while preserving North American integration under USMCA. Tetakawi supports manufacturers through this evaluation process, including customs and trade compliance analysis during due diligence.

China maintains more individual trade agreements, but Mexico's agreements cover more partner countries overall and include preferential access to both the United States under USMCA and the European Union through its modernized agreement. China does not maintain comprehensive FTAs with either market.

Yes — provided they meet the rules of origin requirements under the applicable agreement. Under USMCA, qualifying goods can enter the United States duty-free. Mexico also maintains a comprehensive agreement with the European Union, allowing qualifying products to access EU markets under preferential terms. Tetakawi provides ongoing trade compliance support for manufacturers operating in Mexico, helping companies navigate qualification requirements and maintain preferential access across applicable agreements.

Each trade agreement establishes product-specific rules of origin that determine whether a product qualifies for preferential tariff treatment. These rules evaluate factors such as regional value content, tariff classification shifts, and sourcing of materials. During the evaluation stage of a Mexico expansion, companies often analyze their bill of materials and supply chain structure to determine potential qualification under relevant agreements. Tetakawi supports this process by coordinating customs analysis during due diligence, helping manufacturers understand how their products may qualify under applicable trade agreements before committing to a Mexico operation.

Tetakawi operates a Manufacturing Campus model that enables manufacturers to establish operations in Mexico within a fully supported industrial environment. Each Manufacturing Campus is built around four core pillars: infrastructure, workforce, logistics, and compliance. This structure allows companies to begin production efficiently while Tetakawi manages administrative, regulatory, HR, trade, and compliance functions under Mexican law — reducing risk and operational complexity. During the due diligence stage, Tetakawi can also coordinate customs and trade analysis to help companies evaluate trade agreement qualification, tariff exposure, and how a Mexico facility would integrate into their broader North American supply chain strategy.

Yes. Proximity to the U.S. means most Mexican factories can deliver to the American market in 1–3 days by truck — compared to 25–35 days by ocean from China. That gap matters beyond speed: it cuts inventory carrying costs roughly in half, allows smaller and more frequent shipments, and gives manufacturers the flexibility to respond to demand shifts in days rather than months. The advantage extends beyond North America. Mexico to the UK is approximately 15 days by ocean compared to 30 from China. Mexico to Europe is roughly 12–18 days versus 28–35 from East Asia. Shorter transit times mean lower working capital requirements, less safety stock, and tighter quality feedback loops across every FTA destination — not just the ones next door.

Yes, and it’s an underappreciated advantage. Mexico has a GDP exceeding $1.8 trillion, a population of over 130 million, and a growing middle class driving demand across automotive, consumer goods, medical devices, and industrial equipment. A manufacturing facility in Mexico gives companies dual access: export to 52 FTA partner countries at preferential tariff rates, and sell domestically into one of Latin America’s largest economies. For many manufacturers, the domestic market alone justifies the facility — the FTA export network is an additional strategic layer on top of it.