1. a factory in Mexico that assembles imported materials into products for export, typically located near the U.S. border
Usage: economics; manufacturing

Examples

• The maquiladora employed hundreds of workers to assemble electronic components.
• Many U.S. companies established maquiladoras in Tijuana to reduce production costs.
• The growth of maquiladoras transformed the economy of northern Mexico.
• Workers at the maquiladora earned higher wages than in other local industries.
• The maquiladora system allows duty-free import of raw materials for assembly.
• Environmental concerns have been raised about some maquiladora operations.