Insecurity, job losses, and obstacles to trade at the border are the main challenges facing Baja California, Senator José Máximo García López stated.
In a meeting with business leaders and representatives of the city’s commercial sector, the legislator indicated that since February 10—the date he assumed the position replacing Gustavo Sánchez—he has established a strategic agenda with representatives of the region’s productive sectors to gain firsthand knowledge of the problems they face.
During the meeting at the National Chamber of Commerce (CANACO) in Tijuana, he acknowledged that the state is facing a complicated economic situation, with approximately 9 million square meters of industrial space currently available, and around 50,000 workers having lost their jobs as more than 40,000 companies have closed their doors in the last four years.
After describing the situation in the state as worrisome, he called for strengthened citizen and business participation to demand solutions from the authorities, thereby advancing the handling of priority issues such as security, employment, and economic stability.
Meanwhile, members of the business organization outlined the main problems affecting them. Regarding public safety, they cited the increase in extortion cases and the general insecurity plaguing the city, which negatively impacts tourism and investor confidence.
They also mentioned that new tax burdens related to hiring personnel have reduced the capacity to generate new jobs.
Another point addressed was the functionality of the Public Vehicle Registry (REPUVE), where representatives of the automotive sector denounced delays and a lack of operational capacity for registering imported vehicles, resulting in long lines and difficult conditions for those carrying out these procedures at the border.
They also expressed concern about the potential expiration of the decree establishing tariff incentives for the border region, which expires next September. They explained that this scheme allows them to import products with tariffs between zero and 5 percent, helping them maintain competitive prices compared to U.S. trade.
They warned that if the decree is not renewed, tariffs could increase to 30 percent, or even 50 percent for some products, which would raise prices and directly impact consumers and businesses in the region.
In response to these concerns, the senator reiterated his willingness to maintain open communication with the business sector and assured them that he would seek to promote solutions from the Senate, as well as arrange meetings with federal agencies to address the issues raised.
Source: afntijuana
