Mexico considers tougher trade rules for China amid US talks

Mexico is preparing to ratchet up trade restrictions on selected Chinese products while raising existing import taxes on others, a move that sits squarely at the intersection of North American trade politics and the broader US-China economic standoff. What Mexico already did, and what comes next Mexico’s tariff overhaul is already substantial. The increases that kicked in at the start of 2026 cover roughly 1,463 tariff lines, about 12% of Mexico’s entire tariff schedule. Most of the new rates land between 20% and 35%, though some categories reach as high as 50%. The affected goods span automotive parts, electronics, textiles, steel, and consumer products. In dollar terms, the tariff changes touch approximately $52 billion in annual imports, or 8.6% of Mexico’s total import bill. The legislation passed Mexico’s Senate with overwhelming support, clearing on a 76-5 vote after President Claudia Sheinbaum proposed the measures in September 2025. The US pressure cooker Washington has long suspected that Chinese manufacturers use Mexico as a backdoor into the US market. The logic is straightforward: ship components or finished goods to Mexico, do minimal processing, then export them north...