Mexico’s Senate has approved a measure raising tariffs on a range of imports from China and other Asian countries, with new duties of up to 50% set to take effect in 2026. The bill, already passed by the lower house, targets goods from nations that do not have free-trade agreements with Mexico — including China, India, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia — and focuses on sectors such as autos, auto parts, textiles and clothing, plastics, steel and footwear.
Most of the affected product lines will face duties capped at 35%, but certain items could see levies as high as 50%. The measure applies to roughly 1,400 product classifications, mainly textiles, apparel, steel, auto parts, plastics and footwear. Compared with an earlier, tougher proposal that stalled in the lower house, the enacted version reduces duties on about two-thirds of those lines.
The Senate passed the bill with 76 votes in favor, 5 against and 35 abstentions. Business groups had warned the tariffs would raise costs for manufacturers and consumers while potentially disrupting supply chains.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said it would closely monitor the new tariff regime and evaluate its effects, warning such actions could “substantially undermine” trade interests. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry added that embracing protectionism “is detrimental to others and yet does not benefit oneself.”
Analysts and private-sector representatives say the measures serve multiple purposes: protecting domestic industries exposed to cheaper Asian imports, signaling Mexico’s stance ahead of the next review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and raising fiscal revenue. The government expects the duties to generate about $3.76 billion in extra revenue next year as it seeks to lower the fiscal deficit.
Opposition senator Mario Vazquez (PAN) said the tariffs shield disadvantaged local producers and help preserve jobs, but cautioned they function like an additional tax on consumers. Emmanuel Reyes, a senator from the ruling Morena party and chair of the Senate Economy Committee, defended the policy as a tool to strengthen Mexico’s role in global supply chains, protect employment and guide trade policy in the public interest.
Mexico had signaled in September that it would raise tariffs on automobiles and other products from China and other Asian exporters. The move also comes amid U.S. pressure on countries in Latin America to reduce economic dependence on China amid broader strategic competition in the region.
