Mexican lawmakers have approved a package of new tariffs, impacting hundreds of products, many of which come from China.
The measures, which President Claudia Sheinbaum has said are needed to boost domestic production, were passed by the Mexican Senate on Wednesday.
The levies are set to take effect on 1 January 2026 and will apply to goods like metals, cars, clothing and appliances. Dozens of countries that do not have a free trade agreement with Mexico will be affected, including Thailand, India and Indonesia.
The measures will impose tariffs of up to 50% on more than 1,400 products.
A spokesperson for Beijing’s commerce ministry on Thursday said the levies will “substantially harm the interests of trading partners, including China,”.
Chinese companies have been expanding their footprint in Mexico in recent years, with car brands like BYD and MG establishing operations in the country. Sheinbaum’s government is in talks with the Trump administration as it tries to reduce tariffs that the White House has threatened to impose on the country.
They include potential 50% duties on Mexican steel and aluminium.
Trump has also threatened to impose extra tariffs on Mexico for various reasons, including a 25% levy as part of Washington’s measures to pressure countries to do more to stop the flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into America.
