Mexico, under pressure not to serve as a back door for Chinese goods entering the United States, is considering a 50-percent duty on car imports from the Asian giant — up from 15-20 percent.
In a bill submitted to Mexico’s Congress on Wednesday, the government proposes raising import tariffs on several countries with which it has no trade agreement.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said in March her government would review its tariffs with Beijing to deflect pressure from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened Mexico with steep duties.
The White House has said Chinese producers are abusing a free-trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada to send goods over the Mexican border tariff-free.
Sheinbaum has also complained of the impact of Chinese imports on Mexican manufacturing.
Mexico replaced China in 2023 as the United States’ largest trading partner, with the Latin American country’s northern neighbor buying more than 80 percent of its exports.
It exports nearly three million automobiles to the United States a year, including cars and trucks assembled by US auto companies in Mexico.
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© Agence France-Presse
