Overview

• The Paquete Económico 2026 proposes tariffs of 10% to 50% on 1,463 import categories from countries without free‑trade agreements, covering about 8.6% of imports and including higher rates on Chinese cars.
• Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard says the move is a commercial measure intended to protect domestic industry and comply with WTO rules, framing it as a way to level competition.
• Ebrard plans meetings with China’s ambassador Chen Daojiang and other Asian diplomats to explain the policy after Beijing urged Mexico to be extremely cautious and signaled it could take necessary steps to defend its interests.
• Industry reaction is split, with Concamin voicing support for shielding production as ARIDRA warns steeper duties on auto parts could raise consumer costs and threaten roughly 1 million aftermarket jobs.
• Officials say roughly 20% of Mexico’s imports from China would be affected and estimate a modest inflation impact of about 0.3%, while analysts highlight Mexico’s large auto trade deficit with China and potential supply‑chain effects.