Mexico Hits India With 50% Tariffs — What This Means for $1 Billion in Exports

A 50% tariff continues to be applied on imports sourced from nations without any trade agreement, and India falls into that category. Just below, we explain why Mexico imposed the 50% tariff on India, what impact it will have on India’s ~$900 million worth of goods being exported, and more.

Key Points

• Tariff level: 50% on imports from countries without a trade agreement with Mexico.
• India’s position: No current trade agreement with Mexico; Indian exports face the full rate.
• Exposure: Roughly $0.9–1.0B in annual Indian exports impacted.

Expected Impact

• Higher landed costs for Indian goods entering Mexico.
• Potential demand shift toward suppliers with preferential access.
• Pressure on Indian exporters to adjust pricing or explore alternative markets/routes.

The latest situation for travellers flying on 12th December: IndiGo’s operations are slowly inching back toward normal after one of the most chaotic periods in recent memory, but the recovery is far from complete.

The airline has been battling a perfect storm—crew shortages, weather disruptions across multiple regions, and operational bottlenecks at major airports. The shock hit schedules almost simultaneously and rippled through the entire network.

More flights are departing on time compared with previous days, yet the backlog remains serious. Over the past week, there have been 5,000+ cancellations and widespread delays that left passengers stranded and frustrated.

Airport Impact

• Major hubs—Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai—bore the brunt.
• Long queues, repeated delays, last-minute cancellations, extended gate holds.

So, What Does Today Look Like?

According to IndiGo’s flight status for 12th December, certain routes are still getting trimmed as the airline stabilises crew availability and adjusts aircraft rotations. Congested metro sectors continue to feel pressure. While cancellations are down from the peak, IndiGo is still in recovery mode and not every route is back to full strength.

Why the Meltdown Happened

• Crew scheduling imbalance: Months of strain culminated in a rotation collapse when delays hit multiple sectors.
• Legal rest requirements: With rest periods incomplete, flights were cancelled rather than flown with fatigued crew.
• Winter fog in North India: Long runway waits and ground delays choked punctuality.
• Fleet dislocation: Aircraft and crew out of position; turnarounds slowed sharply.

What IndiGo Is Doing on 12 December

• Reduced daily operations to create schedule breathing room and stop cascading delays.
• Coordination with regulators to repair scheduling and clear backlogs methodically.
• Passenger relief: Compensation measures including travel vouchers up to ₹10,000 for severely impacted travellers.

Traveller Playbook for Today

• Check flight status every few hours; gate and timing changes are common.
• Arrive early at crowded hubs (Delhi/Bengaluru/Mumbai) to clear queues.
• Keep plans flexible: have alternates for tight connections and critical meetings.
• Monitor weather if flying to/from North India; fog can trigger knock-on delays.
• Document disruptions (boarding passes, messages) to claim refunds/vouchers.

Bottom Line

The recovery is visible but fragile. The crisis exposed weaknesses in crew planning and operational resilience, and rivals are watching. Expect a few more days before IndiGo fully regains schedule control. If you’re flying today, stay alert for updates, arrive early, and be ready to adapt.