December 2019, GoPro announced that it would move most of the production of cameras destined for the US out of China, due to the China-US trade war. Thanks to rising labor costs in China, and uncertainty around the trade war, organizations are busy exploring every possible outcome of relocating manufacturing, and many have their eyes on Mexico! In what ways are Mexico more appealing than China? The key concerns for purchasing manager and supply chain manager are rising labor costs, trade agreements with the US, costs of shipping, and energy costs. So, let’s explore them one by one: Labor costs – In 2012, the unit labor costs (which is equivalent to the wages adjusted for productivity) in Mexico was equal to that in China. However, by 2015, the manufacturing wages in Mexico had dropped to 30% lower than China. Many manufacturers, especially those whose products are labor-intensive, found the labor market in Mexico seductive. Trade agreements – While China is battling w...