Overview
- Effective November 11, Mexico replaced per‑kilogram duties with ad‑valorem rates of 156% for several cane and beet sugar categories and 210.44% for liquid refined and inverted sugar, excluding partners with tariff preferences.
- The government cites domestic oversupply and falling global prices in shifting from fixed charges of $0.36, $0.338 and $0.39586 per kg, noting the measure follows legal procedures and the Foreign Trade Commission’s opinion.
- Authorities forecast limited inflation effects because imports are roughly 4% of consumption, with the new tariffs lifting import parity to about $1,050 per tonne for raw sugar and $1,310 for refined versus domestic prices of $901 and $1,252.
- Major industry groups endorsed the move, arguing it will effectively shut down destabilizing imports, as officials tout a modernization plan for the sugar value chain.
- Producer protests continued with calls for financial support and anti‑contraband enforcement, while GCMA labeled the tariff necessary but insufficient and urged higher U.S. export quotas and rules on high‑fructose corn syrup.