Mexicos new tariffs on Asian imports goal to counter U.S. commerce pressures

Mexican import taxes on greater than 1,400 merchandise from China and different Asian international locations will likely be as excessive as 50%, because the nation tries to shore up home manufacturing and go on a number of the Trump administration’s tariff ache.

President Claudia Sheinbaum stated the tariffs revealed a day earlier in her administration’s price range proposal are supposed to counter the results of U.S. tariffs on some merchandise from Mexico, notably within the automotive sector, which accounts for 23% of Mexico’s manufacturing.

Among the merchandise that may face the import taxes are gentle automobiles, auto elements, textiles, footwear, plastics, electronics, toys and different objects.

The price range is anticipated to go simply by Mexico’s Congress, the place the governing occasion holds majorities in each chambers.

Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard stated on Wednesday (September 10, 2025) that the tariffs can be utilized to eight.6% of what Mexico buys overseas and apply solely to international locations that do not need free commerce agreements with Mexico.

The listed merchandise have already got a mean 16% tariff, however Ebrard stated they’d be raised to the utmost permitted by worldwide agreements.

China would be the most affected as Mexico imported $130 billion value of merchandise from the nation in 2024, second solely to the what Mexico purchased from the United States. Other high international locations hit will likely be South Korea, Thailand, India, Philippines and Indonesia.

Mexico has been underneath strain from the Trump administration to restrict Chinese imports, a few of which the U.S. has alleged use Mexico as a backdoor to the U.S. market.

“What Mexico is in search of proper now are reductions or exemptions to the tariffs they’re paying (to the U.S.),” stated Oscar Ocampo, a researcher on the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness.

Mexico continues attempting to barter its means out of these tariffs — notably that of 25% on the automotive sector and 50% on metal and aluminum — even because it prepares together with Canada and the United States for a revision of their free commerce settlement.

Mexico’s new tariffs on its Asian commerce companions might strengthen its hand in talks with Washington, Ocampo stated. “Will or not it’s sufficient or not? It’s unattainable to know,” he stated.

Ms. Sheinbaum, who met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio final week in Mexico City, says the tariffs will not be the results of U.S. strain, however relatively are aimed toward spurring home manufacturing.

Her administration argues that the merchandise focused, like Chinese automobiles, are bought beneath market costs.

Last month, Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese authorities, criticized the rumored Mexican tariffs.

“China firmly opposes restrictions imposed on China underneath numerous pretexts and underneath coercion from others, which hurt China’s professional rights and pursuits,” he stated.

Mr. Ocampo stated that not like the U.S. tariffs, Mexico is saying clearly that it’s following worldwide commerce tips.