Mexico Hikes Tariffs on China Amid U.S. Pressure

On Wednesday, Mexico decided to increase tariffs on Chinese imports by 50%, following President Donald Trump’s call for Mexico to help limit China’s influence.

The Mexican Senate overwhelmingly supported the bill with a vote of 76-5, alongside 35 members abstaining. This legislation, set to take effect in 2026, comes prior to a review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement next year. In response, China labeled the measures as “unilateralist and protectionist,” while Mexico argues these steps contradict the trend of global economic integration.

Trump’s administration has been urging Mexico and other Latin American nations to limit Chinese activities, reflected in a recent national security strategy that identifies the Western Hemisphere as a primary foreign policy focus for the U.S.

The White House hasn’t yet commented on this development.

President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has had a complicated relationship with Trump, partly due to her reluctance to aggressively confront the country’s drug cartels.

Despite the tariff hike, Mexico and China maintain a robust trading partnership, with automobiles being China’s major export to Latin America. China’s trade surplus with Mexico is significant, with projections showing exports outpacing imports by $71 billion by 2024.

The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. previously remarked, “At a time when U.S. tariff abuses are causing a global backlash, countries should strengthen communication and cooperation to collectively protect free trade and multilateralism. A unilateral tariff increase by Mexico would be perceived as unilateral bullying and compromise.”