Overview
- Mexico’s tariff package takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, imposing 5%–50% duties on 1,463 tariff lines across 17 industries and covering roughly $52 billion in imports from countries without free‑trade agreements, including China and several Asian suppliers.
- The Wall Street Journal reports Mexico’s goods trade with the U.S. is nearing $900 billion in 2025, with overall manufacturing exports to the U.S. up nearly 9% from January to November, a 6% drop in autos offset by a 17% rise in other manufactured goods.
- About 85% of Mexican exports to the U.S. remain duty‑free under T‑MEC, and Mexico’s effective tariff rate stands at roughly 4.7% versus 37.1% for China, helping Mexican producers fill gaps left by higher‑tariffed Chinese goods.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum and Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard say the new duties aim to strengthen domestic production rather than target a specific country, as officials position policy ahead of the 2026 T‑MEC review.
- Experts warn of legal exposure under Mexico’s investment protection treaties and note Chinese attempts to route goods via Vietnam, while SME representatives forecast higher input costs and consumer prices of roughly 45%–55%.