Fresh U.S. trade data show the deficit with Mexico widened in 2025, even as tariff-related headlines dominated. The numbers point to a familiar reality: cross-border trade continued to grow, and imports from Mexico rose faster than U.S. exports. With Washington’s tariff rules shifting again this week, the latest figures offer a clearer look at what is changing and what is not in the Mexico-U.S. economy, and why businesses in Mexico are still watching closely today.
Trade data show a wider gap
New U.S. trade data show a wider goods deficit with Mexico in 2025. Tariff pressure remained a major policy theme. The U.S. Census Bureau’s country tables put U.S. goods exports to Mexico at $337.96 billion in 2025. They put U.S. imports from Mexico at $534.87 billion. That produced a goods deficit of $196.91 billion. In 2024, the same deficit was $171.49 billion. The year-over-year gap increased by about $25.42 billion, or roughly 14.8%. The figures also show the imbalance was not just a late-year spike. Monthly deficits stayed negative throughout 2025 and often exceeded $16 billion. December ended with a goods deficit of $14.20 billion on the Census goods table. The Census table is reported in nominal dollars and is not seasonally adjusted. The broader U.S. trade release from BEA and Census showed a $901.5 billion U.S. goods-and-services deficit for 2025. Reuters also noted the U.S. goods deficit reached a record annual level.
Tariffs shifted but trade kept moving
The data help explain why tariff headlines have not translated into a smaller U.S. gap with Mexico. Imports from Mexico rose by more than $29 billion in 2025. U.S. exports to Mexico also rose, but by about $3.93 billion. Two-way trade expanded, but imports grew faster. Cross-border supply chains remain a major reason. Manufacturers in North America still move parts and finished products back and forth. This is especially true in vehicles, electronics, and industrial production. The policy picture also shifted again this week. A White House proclamation dated February 20 imposed a temporary Section 122 import surcharge for 150 days. The published proclamation text set the surcharge at 10%. It also listed exceptions, including goods from Mexico and Canada that enter duty-free under USMCA rules. Reuters later reported the administration raised the temporary duty to 15% before its February 24 start. Reuters also reported that the Supreme Court ruling ended the legal basis for earlier IEEPA tariffs.
Why this matters for readers in Mexico
For readers living in Mexico, this is more than a Washington trade dispute. The numbers suggest U.S. demand for Mexican goods remained strong through 2025, despite the tariff push. It also shows how deep the trade ties remain. That matters for factory output, logistics traffic, and business planning in cities linked to export corridors. It also matters for households and expats who watch the peso, inflation, and imported prices. Trade policy changes can move sentiment quickly, even before they change store prices. The key point in today’s data is simple. The commercial relationship continued to move at scale even as the legal basis for U.S. tariffs changed. That leaves businesses planning around two realities at once. Demand remains strong, but the tariff framework is still shifting. This is why trade coverage stays important even during a heavy security news cycle. The next U.S. trade releases will show whether the new tariff setup changes volumes or mostly changes headlines.
