News

Jun 05, 2025

Changing tariffs increase workload for Laredo customs broker

LAREDO, Texas — With billions of dollars of goods crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Laredo has become a major trade hub, and it is the local customs brokers who are helping companies navigate the

LAREDO, Texas — With billions of dollars of goods crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Laredo has become a major trade hub, and it is the local customs brokers who are helping companies navigate the ever-changing trade process.

“We have a Mexican division and then we all have a duty-free store that we work with,” said JD Gonzalez.

For 30 years, JD Gonzalez has worked as a customs broker licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“My grandfather was a Mexican customs broker,” said Gonzalez. “So, with that being said, I always wanted to be in the industry.”

At his warehouse in Laredo, Texas, they facilitate the import of goods from Mexico into the United States.

“Every time you go to the store, as a customs broker, we’ll always go look at the label and the compliance requirements,” said Gonzalez. “If you see where it’s from, if it’s another country, a customs broker handled that.”

His staff prepares documents for importers, collecting duties and tariffs to ensure compliance with trade regulations.

“The big item that’s coming up is tariffs,” said Gonzalez. “2025 has been completely different. A lot of people didn’t realize we were in the middle doing all the processing. They just bought the goods. Now they’re starting to realize the cost of goods are going up now.”

Typically, Gonzalez says there would be a testing phase before new tariffs and trade regulations are implemented. As the president of the National Customs Brokers Association, he says ports in Long Beach and San Diego are feeling the impact.

“Long Beach is down 42% because of Chinese commodities,” said Gonzalez. “San Diego the same thing. They are down 32%. But then, because we’re on the main corridor coming straight from Mexico, we’re actually maintaining and seeing an increase a little bit. So, we’ve actually benefited.”

Gonzalez says with a lot of companies moving work into Mexico, Laredo brokers have actually benefited. He says their workload has tripled this year to keep up with the complex process.

“In Mexico right now, they’re hitting tariffs on three particular items,” said Gonzalez. “Steel, aluminum and the automotive industry. We’re going to start hitting tomatoes here in a couple of months. So that’s going to be another industry going to be affected.”

As the population in Texas grows, so does the amount of freight traveling our highways. With the majority of the 1550 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border being in Texas — the Texas Trucking Association president says keeping trucks moving safely is vital.

“We have a lot invested in our partnership in Mexico,” said John Esparza, president and CEO Texas Trucking Association. “It is not just our back door; it’s our front porch. As far as the trucking industry is concerned.”

Gonzalez says some clients are shocked by the changing rates of importing goods, but only time will tell how tariffs will affect trade volumes down the line.

“Right now, Mexico is kind of stable,” said Gonzalez. “But on top of that, we’re waiting to see where the plateau is going to end up. Because on a whim things could change.”