Business · Trade · 2 days ago
US Seeks Review of Labor Rights at Yokohama’s Mexico Plant
The US asked Mexico on September 25 to review alleged violations of workers’ rights at Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mexico in Coahuila.
The request was made under the labor mechanism in the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
It followed a complaint by the Liga Sindical Obrera Mexicana and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network.
Yokohama closed its Salem, Virginia, factory on March 18, affecting about 570 workers.
The company has described its new plant in Saltillo, Mexico, as Salem’s main replacement for production.
It plans to begin mass production in 2027, initially making two million tires a year that were previously produced in Salem.
The plant is planned to reach capacity of five million tires annually, but the company has not said that Saltillo’s jobs will match those lost in Salem.
Mexico has been asked to review the labor allegations; the available information does not state the review’s outcome.
Yokohama plans to shift an initial annual production of two million tires from its closed Salem, Virginia, factory to a new plant in Saltillo, Mexico.
The company described Mexico as Salem’s “principal replacement” and said the new plant would mainly serve North America.
Salem closed on March 18, 2026, affecting about 570 employees, according to Yokohama.
The planned production shift comes amid a U.S. request for Mexico to review alleged labor-rights violations at Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mexico.
The Saltillo plant is expected to begin mass production in 2027, with a planned annual capacity of five million tires.
- Who
- Yokohama Tire Manufacturing. The U.S. has asked Mexico to review a labor complaint involving the company’s Mexican operation.
- What
- Yokohama plans to shift an initial annual production of two million tires from Salem to Saltillo. The U.S. has requested a review of alleged violations of workers’ union rights at the Mexican plant.
- When
- The Salem factory closed on March 18, 2026. Mass production in Mexico is planned for 2027.
- Where
- Salem, Virginia, and Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.
- Why
- Yokohama said the Mexican plant would improve competitiveness through lower costs and serve North American demand. The U.S. review request concerns alleged violations of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
principal replacement
Yokohama marked the start of construction of its Saltillo plant in the Alianza industrial park.
A Yokohama corporate presentation showed a trial mass-production stage ahead of planned mass production in 2027.
Yokohama closed its Salem factory, affecting about 570 employees.
Yokohama president Shinji Seimiya described Mexico as Salem’s principal replacement.
The U.S. Trade Representative asked Mexico to review alleged labor-rights violations at Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mexico.
- Salem closure
- March 18, 2026
- Employees affected
- About 570
- Initial production planned for Saltillo
- 2 million tires annually
- Saltillo plant capacity
- 5 million tires annually
- Planned mass production
- 2027
- U.S. review request
- September 25, 2026
Sources
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