Unilever to invest $1.5 billion in Mexico amid trade tensions

British consumer goods giant Unilever announced on Friday a $1.5 billion investment in Mexico, as the country continues to attract global companies amid rising trade tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump.
“This investment will create 1,200 new direct and indirect jobs in Mexico,” said Willem Uijen, Unilever’s chief supply chain and operations officer, speaking alongside President Claudia Sheinbaum at her daily press briefing.
The announcement adds to a wave of recent foreign investment pledges made during Sheinbaum’s events, highlighting growing international confidence in Mexico’s economic outlook.
“It means they see a positive and promising future for Mexico,” said Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard.
In March, U.S. retail giant Walmart pledged over $6 billion in investment this year, promising to generate thousands of jobs. Other major global players, including Amazon, Mercado Libre, Netflix, and Spain’s Santander Bank, have also unveiled significant investment plans in the country.
Although Mexico was excluded from Trump’s latest round of steep “reciprocal tariffs,” several key sectors—including automobiles, steel, and aluminum—still face U.S. duties.
Trump has aimed to shrink trade deficits with countries he accuses of engaging in "unfair" trade practices, including Mexico. However, Sheinbaum said she had a phone call with Trump on Thursday and agreed to collaborate on improving trade balance between the two nations.