Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is preparing to increase tariffs on products from China and other Asian countries as part of its 2026 Economic Package, which will be sent to Congress before September 8.
According to sources consulted by Bloomberg, the measure seeks to protect domestic companies from cheap and subsidized imports, primarily in sectors such as automobiles, textiles, and plastics.
Although the plan could still be modified, sources assure that it is a strategy to protect Mexican industry and, at the same time, respond to pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has asked Mexico to align itself with the US tariffs against China.
Why will Mexico impose more tariffs on products from China?
The decision has a strong geopolitical component. Since the beginning of the year, the Trump administration has pressured Mexico to increase tariffs on Chinese products. According to Washington, a large portion of these imports ended up being re-exported to the United States, thus circumventing US trade barriers.
In this context, officials from both countries have proposed the creation of a “Fortress North America,” the objective of which would be to reduce dependence on China, strengthen the USMCA, and consolidate regional production.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed support for this idea, as Mexico, the United States, and Canada prepare to review the USMCA in 2026.
What will happen to Chinese cars in Mexico?
One of the most sensitive sectors is the automotive sector. In recent years, Mexico has become the main global destination for Chinese cars, surpassing even Russia, according to the China Passenger Car Association.
Currently, vehicles from China pay tariffs of up to 20% in Mexico, much lower than what they face in the United States, where many stricter measures exist:
100% tariff on Chinese electric cars.
A tariff increase in Mexico could make these vehicles more expensive, reduce their competitiveness in the local market, and, at the same time, increase tax revenues in a context of a large budget deficit.
How will this impact the 2026 Budget?
The 2026 Economic Package is presented in a complex scenario: the public deficit reached its highest level since the 1980s in 2024, after former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador allocated large resources to completing his priority projects.
Sheinbaum seeks fiscal balance through two avenues:
More efficient tax collection.
Increasing non-tax revenue, such as tariffs on Chinese products.
The measure is also part of Plan Mexico, an industrialization program based on industrial parks and public spending projects that aims to stimulate investment in strategic sectors.
Which products will face higher tariffs in Mexico?
Although official details have not yet been published, sources indicate that the increases would be concentrated in:
Automobiles (particularly electric ones).
Textiles and clothing.
Plastics and manufactured products.
Other Asian countries could also be included on the list of goods with higher tariffs, broadening the regional impact.
In addition to strengthening domestic industry, the tariff plan seeks to improve relations with the United States, Mexico’s main trading partner. Last month, Trump granted Sheinbaum an extension on higher tariffs, following a bilateral call in which trade and security issues were discussed.
The agreement also includes a common front against drug trafficking and fentanyl trafficking, which Trump has used as an argument to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican goods not covered by the USMCA.
In this sense, the tariff policy is combined with the security agenda, which could give Mexico greater room for maneuver in the upcoming USMCA renegotiations.
Source: periodicocorreo
