Tariffs on Mexican goods are getting ready to hit you right in the avocados
Here’s how Trump’s Mexico tariffs might affect your day-to-day.
The effects of the Trump administration’s new 25% across-the-board tariffs on Mexican imports will be hard to miss. Mexico is, after all, America’s largest trading partner. The US imported $506 billion worth of goods from Mexico in 2024, and Mexico imported $334 billion worth of American goods. Mexican leaders say they’re baffled by Trump’s actions and will be announcing a raft of retaliatory tariffs soon.
Yesterday we looked at a day in the life of Canadian tariffs. Today, let’s take a look at all the things you might encounter during a typical day that are likely to have been imported from Mexico.
It’s the weekend. You wake up a little groggy from your night at the pub. Nothing that a good omelette won’t fix. You whip up some eggs and chop some vegetables. That’s when you realize you are out of avocados, because their price was outrageous at the supermarket this week.
🥑 90% of avocados imported to the US come from Mexico. The US imported $3.4 billion worth in 2024.
After breakfast, you head to the marina, where you meet a friend for an outing on their boat. As you speed across the water, you think about how nice it would be to have a really nice boat of your own. But last time you looked, the prices had shot up 25%, making them further out of reach...
🚤 85% of outboard motorboats, rowboats, and canoes imported to the US came from Mexico in 2024. The US imported $568 million of these watercraft in 2024.
While out on the boat, you open your cooler and pop open a frosty beer (maybe one of Constellation Brands’ Coronas). But you only picked up a six-pack, as they have gotten so expensive recently.
🍺 83% of beer imported to the US comes from Mexico. The US imported $6.2 billion worth of beer from Mexico in 2024.
It’s getting late! You need to run to the grocery store to pick up some things for the barbecue dinner you’re hosting tonight. Hold up — when did watermelons get so expensive?!
🍉 95% of the watermelons imported to the US (between April 1 and November 30) come from Mexico. $273 million worth were imported to the US in 2024.
You hop to the other side of the produce section to grab some sweet corn to throw on the grill. Yikes! Even corn has gotten pricey.
🌽 87% of sweet corn imported to the US comes from Mexico. The US imported $78 million worth in 2024.
After the stress of trying to shop for groceries, you start making a batch of margaritas. You do a double take at your receipt from the liquor store. Tequila prices have shot up, too! Technically, tequila can only be called tequila when its made in Mexico, so there’s no way around this one.
🍹 Almost 100% of the tequila imported to the US comes from Mexico. The US imported $5.2 billion worth in 2024.
You take a sip of your cold margarita, but it tastes a little rough because you watered it down with a lot with a mixer and passed on the fresh limes.
🍋🟩 81% of the limes imported to the US come from Mexico. The US imported $66 million worth in 2024.
As you throw back the drink, you wonder what could be next.
Source: United States International Trade Administration.
