Mexico leads exports of robotics and industrial machinery to the United States, with $6.68 billion in the first half of 2025, according to data from the consulting firm Iqom.
Mexico was followed by Germany ($3.769 billion), Japan ($2.552 billion), Canada ($2.516 billion), and China ($1.967 billion).
Exports of robotics
On September 26, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced via the Federal Register the initiation of a Section 232 investigation into imports of industrial machinery and robotics. The review began on September 2 and will conclude no later than May 30, 2026.
The scope covers key equipment for advanced manufacturing. It includes programmable robots, CNC centers, turning and milling machines, grinding and pressing systems, autoclaves, industrial furnaces, EDM machinery, and laser or water jet cutting technologies. Drones were excluded.
The investigation will assess demand, domestic capacity, external dependence, and supplier concentration. It will also analyze subsidies, overproduction, and trade risks. For Mexico, the impact is significant: in 2024, it led the supply with 22% of the total, worth $10.896 billion, followed by Germany and Canada.
Impact on Mexico
In the absence of a definitive list of sections, it is not possible to estimate the precise impact. However, Mexico’s high level of integration in machinery, automation, and industrial control places it among the most vulnerable countries if the investigation results in Section 232 tariffs, especially in electrical controls, handling equipment, and hydraulic pumps.
The United States imported $29.964 billion worth of robotics and industrial machinery products from around the world in the first half of 2025.
Other significant suppliers during that period were Italy ($1.837 billion), South Korea ($1.59 billion), Taiwan ($992 million), India ($883 million), and Switzerland ($613 million).
Section 232 allows the head of a department, agency, or interested party to request that the Secretary of Commerce investigate whether an import affects the national security of the United States. The Secretary may also initiate the process and must immediately notify the Department of Defense; if the request is withdrawn, the investigation may be terminated.