European shippers and forwarders have welcomed the new free-trade agreement between the EU and Mexico, which was inked at a summit in Mexico City at the end of last week.
It builds on the trade accord signed in 2000 and provides duty-free access for almost all goods.
Closer economic economic ties between the bloc of 27 European member states and Mexico reflect efforts on both sides to reduce dependence on the US and President Trump’s volatile tariff offensive, as well as China.
“Trade agreements are always very important for the EU as they reduce customs duties and also decrease the often-underestimated administrative burdens. These can be costly, as well as adding complexity and unreliability to procedures which translate into significant delays at the borders,” commented the European Shippers’ Council’s secretary general Godfried Smit.
“From a business perspective, these agreements open up markets. For EU companies it is also very important that they diversify their sourcing as geopolitical tensions are very high at present and there is the risk of disruption to logistics.”
In 2025, trade between the two was valued at more than €86bn ($79bn): roughly €53bn in exports and almost €34bn in imports. The EU stands as Mexico’s third-largest trading partner after the US and China, and its second-largest export market.
Mexico exports machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, mineral products, and metals and imports machinery, automotive products, chemicals, and industrial equipment from the EU.
Moreover, EU-Mexico trade has grown more than 75% in the past decade, with exports growing slightly more rapidly, at 92% versus 66% for imports.
More than 45,000 EU companies are expected to benefit from the new trade agreement.
Nicolette van der Jagt, director general of the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT), which represents the interests of more than 19,000 companies employing in excess of a million staff, said that the trade body, in general, supported trade agreements that facilitate international trade.
“For freight forwarders and logistics service providers, such agreements can contribute to smoother customs procedures, greater regulatory cooperation and more predictable trading conditions, which are particularly important for SMEs involved in international supply chains. In that respect, the EU-Mexico modernised trade agreement is a positive development.”
However, given that CLECAT had, to date, not conducted detailed sector-specific assessment of the EU-Mexico agreement, she was unable to provide precise analysis regarding which business verticals may benefit most.
In a paper published this month – EU-Mexico trade pact amid rising protectionism? – Shruti Sasidharan, an analyst at Transport Intelligence (Ti), emphasised that the new EU-Mexico trade frameworks came at a time when companies were increasingly diversifying supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainty, rising protectionism, and disruptions to global trade routes.
“Mexico is becoming more important as a manufacturing and export hub because of its strong industrial base and close proximity to the US market. As a result, sectors such as automotive, electronics, machinery, and industrial manufacturing are expected to benefit the most.”
The reduction or removal of tariffs on industrial products, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, and agricultural goods is expected to support higher trade flows.
“This could increase demand for ocean freight services between major European ports, such as Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg, and Valencia, and Mexican ports, including Veracruz and Manzanillo.”
Ms Sasidharan also pointed to the provision in the new EU-Mexico trade agreement which simplified customs procedures and improved market access.
“This could encourage greater use of express delivery and faster transport services, benefiting air freight operators and airport logistics hubs on both sides of the Atlantic,” she added.