Uneven U.S. Tariffs Are Reshaping Export Logistics Across Latin America

U.S. Imposes New Product-Specific Tariffs, Flipping the Export Landscape for Latin America

A new U.S. tariff regime under Section 301 went into effect this week, imposing duties of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies and replacing a temporary blanket tariff that had been in place since February. Unlike the previous measure, the new schedule applies unevenly: each country faces a different mix of rates and exemptions depending on the product, creating a complex patchwork for exporters across Latin America.

Customs brokers and freight forwarders are now confronting a classification bottleneck. A single shipment can contain both tariffed and exempt goods, forcing operators to trace every item by its Harmonized System code with far greater precision. The resulting documentation demands and clearance delays add cost and planning burden to an already tight logistics chain.

The impact falls unevenly by country. In Uruguay, 77.5% of exports to the U.S. escaped the new levy, but commodities like bovine tallow, soybeans and honey are now subject to the additional duty. In Peru the picture is reversed: 55% of export value faces the tariff, while over 2,000 product lines remain exempt. Mexico rides largely under the protection of the T-MEC trade pact, which shields roughly 85% of its shipments; the new tariff hits only the remaining 15%. Central America has less shelter—Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were assigned the full 10% additional duty on their eligible goods, while Panama was excluded from the list altogether, leaving its trade relationship unchanged under a 2012 promotion pact.

For time-sensitive goods like fresh produce and perishable agro-industrial products, even a single percentage point of tariff can decide whether an air-freight route remains profitable against a slower, cheaper maritime alternative. That reality is already pushing many shippers to recalculate landed costs before committing to routes, freight contracts and shipping schedules.

Why a Fragmented Tariff Map Forces Exporters to Rethink Routes, Classification, and Markets

The Classification Bottleneck

Product-by-product tariff differentials force customs brokers to meticulously separate every item in a consignment. This level of granularity was not required under the prior blanket tariff. Now, a single container carrying mixed goods may need multiple duty calculations, extending clearance times and raising administrative costs. For logistics operators serving multiple client sectors, the new norm is a continuous audit of tariff codes, which eats into the time savings from existing digital customs platforms.

Central America’s Cost Squeeze vs. Mexico’s Shield

For Central American nations—already grappling with port and overland transport costs to reach the U.S.—the additional 10% duty is a direct hit to low-margin exports. In industries like textiles, light manufacturing and certain perishables, the levy can eliminate the cost advantage against Asian competitors that benefit from streamlined supply chains. Peru’s situation, with the majority of its export value now facing the top rate, creates similar pressure, potentially shifting U.S. buyers toward suppliers in Uruguay or Panama, where coverage exemptions are wider. Mexico’s T-MEC protection means only a small fraction of its export base is exposed, but that 15% includes niche agricultural and industrial goods where sudden duty changes can still disrupt seasonal planning and long-term contracts with U.S. distributors.

Ecuador’s Canada Deal: A Blueprint for De-Risking

This week Ecuador signed a free trade agreement with Canada that eliminates tariffs on 99.6% of its products, a clear signal that diversification away from the U.S. market is moving from a talking point to an operational strategy. Panama’s existing bilateral accord already does the same, leaving it untouched by the new U.S. duties. For logistics providers, having pre-established alternative trade corridors reduces the scramble when Washington shifts policy. It also allows exporters to negotiate freight contracts with more confidence, knowing a sudden U.S. tariff hike won’t leave them with stranded capacity.

Tariff Review Uncertainty Complicates Long-Term Planning

Several governments in the region are holding open the possibility of asking the U.S. Trade Representative to revise their assigned rates by linking the request to internal reforms banning imports of goods made with forced labor. This mechanism keeps the tariff map in play: a successful review could roll back duties on key products, but until decisions are made, logistics planners face a moving target. Contracts signed today on the assumption of a 12.5% duty could become uncompetitive overnight if the rate drops, or a route deemed viable could turn loss-making if no revision comes. The fluidity forces shippers to build flexibility into their freight agreements and to monitor regulatory signals far more actively than in recent years.

What Latin American Shippers and Logistics Providers Should Do Now

• Reassess your product classifications immediately. Where Uruguay has seen exemptions for 77.5% of exports, honey and bovine tallow are now dutiable—verify which of your HS codes now attract the 10% or 12.5% rate and which remain at zero.
• Recalculate landed costs for mixed shipments. Because a container may hold both tariffed and exempt goods, the effective duty burden per unit must be re-evaluated before fixing sea or air freight contracts, especially for perishables where even a small cost shift can flip the optimal transport mode.
• Test alternative markets now. Ecuador’s new Canada agreement eliminates tariffs on nearly all its products; examine whether your own product mix qualifies for preferential access under existing trade pacts or whether pursuing a new bilateral can open a hedge against future U.S. tariff changes.
• Build tariff review triggers into freight contracts. With the possibility that U.S. rates could be adjusted if countries adopt forced-labor import bans, negotiate clauses that allow re-pricing or rerouting if a key duty changes by a defined amount within the contract period.