**Primary Article: Canaco to Submit Request to Reduce Vehicle Import Taxes to Mexican President**
The established commerce in Tijuana seeks to deliver a petition to Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, during her upcoming visit to the city. The focus of this plea is to seek an extension of the vehicle import decree, which recently expired on September 30th. Julián Palombo Saucedo, president of the Chamber of Commerce (Canaco) in Tijuana, revealed the importance of this request.
He emphasized that lowering import tariffs would benefit car sellers in the northern border region, allowing them to provide more affordable prices to consumers. “One of our challenges is to give car sellers the opportunity to import vehicles with lower duties once again, reaching consumers at a lower cost,” Palombo stated.
During a conference on Wednesday, President Sheinbaum confirmed her visit to the city this weekend. Palombo pointed out that the lack of the previous decree’s renewal has adversely affected local car vendors, disrupting a previously thriving business environment in Tijuana. Under the expired decree, sellers benefited from a 10% tax, which has now increased to 50%.
He noted the drastic drop in the number of car dealerships operating in Tijuana, shrinking from approximately 1,100 to merely 115. Despite efforts to communicate the need for a continuation of these benefits, Palombo reports that federal government has yet to respond.
**Secondary Article: Concerns Over the Future of Tijuana’s Used Car Industry**
The fate of Tijuana’s automotive businesses, particularly those dealing in used cars, has become increasingly uncertain. The previous vehicle import decree, which facilitated lower taxes and boosted profitability for car sellers on the northern border, expired recently without renewal from the current government.
The extension to regulate foreign cars has stirred fear among these businesses, with many “chocolate” cars—unregistered foreign vehicles—being prioritized, potentially at the expense of legally recognized sellers. This administrative choice has left several businesses grappling with operational viability.
Local commerce representatives, like those from Canaco, are urging the government to reconsider and provide a sustainable framework that supports both legal clarity and economic growth for the car sales sector. With the president’s visit to Tijuana, stakeholders are hopeful for constructive dialogue and action that could safeguard the longevity of dealerships still standing against these tax hikes and regulatory changes.