This is the assessment of the directors of the Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (Coexport) in view of the US increase of tariffs on imports.

The president of the association, Silvia Cuellar, addressed this issue in an interview program on Telecorporacion Salvadoreña (TLC), where she stated that a possible 25 percent increase in tariffs for Mexico and Canada will have an impact on all countries because trade chains are connected.

Because of this, she said, an increase in tariffs on imports to the United States will raise the cost for Salvadoran businessmen, especially when the northern market is the main buyer of local products and at the same time the main supplier of raw materials and inputs.

Before assuming the presidency, Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs, under the policy that they do not do enough to contain migration or to seek tariff equality, which opens the door to a trade war that would shake the world economy, without discarding the Salvadoran economy of pending imports to produce.

If the increase of tariffs to Mexico becomes a reality, Cuellar believes that El Salvador can take advantage of market opportunities.

Some plants located in Mexico could move to El Salvador, the region or other countries of the continent to establish their operations and continue with their business.

“We can capture a percentage of that, that is the opportunity,” said Cuellar.

The export sector in El Salvador closed 2024 in red numbers, with a drop of 0.8 percent by exceeding six thousand 447.5 million in shipments of goods, but producers expect an improvement in 2025 if they turn to other scenarios outside the region and the United States.

ef/abo/mem/lb