Mexico has imposed import tariffs of up to 35 percent on textile goods from countries such as China. The aim is to protect the Mexican textile industry from a flood of sometimes illegal imports from abroad, said Economics Minister Marcelo Ebrard. President Claudia Sheinbaum signed the corresponding decree.
The move comes after US President-elect Donald Trump threatened high import tariffs on all goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as additional tariffs on goods from China. Trump claims, among other things, that goods from China enter the USA illegally via Mexico. The USA, Mexico and Canada are trading partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement USMCA.
The new Mexican tariffs will apply until April 2026 on around 150 types of goods from countries with which Mexico does not have a free trade agreement. The import of certain textile products is even completely banned. “We’re closing the door,” Ebrard said. It is about measures to protect one of the most important sectors for job creation in Mexico with around 400,000 employees. More than 79,000 jobs have been cut in the industry in recent years. (dpa)