Mexico's new taxes on imports will benefit these 2 e-commerce stocks

Investing.com -- Mexico’s newly announced import tariffs could boost local competitiveness for e-commerce giants Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN ) and MercadoLibre Inc (NASDAQ:MELI ) while creating headwinds for Asian rivals like Shein and Temu.

The policy imposes a flat 19% duty on goods shipped via couriers from countries without trade agreements, including China. Imports from the U.S. and Canada, however, enjoy exemptions or reduced tariffs under the USMCA trade pact.

The move mirrors Brazil’s recent tax increases, which curbed cross-border imports and hurt Asian players. Analysts expect a similar effect in Mexico, where reduced competition from low-cost imports may allow AMZN and MELI to capture greater market share.

Amazon is poised to benefit most, as about 30% of its Mexican gross merchandise value stems from cross-border operations, primarily from the U.S., which are largely shielded from the new tariffs. Meanwhile, MercadoLibre’s U.S.-based fulfillment center in Texas bolsters its position by enabling sales exempt from the 19% tax for items under $50.

While the tariff increases might minimally impact Amazon’s products priced between $50 and $117, analysts believe the broader effect will be neutral, given Mexico’s modest contribution to Amazon’s global GMV.

Both companies are expected to gain traction in Mexico’s e-commerce market, where they hold similar market shares and are growing quickly—unlike Brazil, where MercadoLibre maintains a dominant lead.

Source: Investing.com