U.S. Christmas Trees Gain a Niche in Mexican Holiday Traditions By Marvin L. Lehrer Christmas trees, candy canes and Santa Clauses are taking their place alongside pinatas, nativity scenes and colored streamers in Mexico's decorating for the Christmas holidays. And the result has been the creation of a $9 million-plus market for imported Christmas trees, roughly 95 percent of which come from the United States. Mexicans take pride in decorating for Christmas. Both plastic and natural trees are used in most households, offices and commercial shops. Mexico's own forests supply the largest share of Christmas trees purchased; however, Mexican supplies are limited by a scarcity of specialized private Christmas tree growers. Consequently, imports have more than doubled in recent years, rising from $4 million in 1992 to over $9 million in 1994. Also helping to spur sales since 1994 has been the elimination under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) of a 20-percent tariff on imports. Interestingly, in the United States, Cinco De Mayo is becoming a mainstream (and popular) holiday in the west. Marvin L. Lehrer is the agricultural trade officer in Mexico City, Mexico.

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