Mexico Weighs Tariffs on China to Avoid U.S. Trade Penalties

Recent reports indicate that the Mexican government is in negotiations with the United States to address President Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican goods by early March. The Mexican government is also considering imposing tariffs on Chinese products as a way to ease the pressure from Trump's new tariff policies.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated in a press conference on Monday that Mexico's Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard is continuing discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The Mexican government is actively working to reach an agreement with the U.S. government. During talks, U.S. officials told Mexican representatives that, to avoid U.S. tariffs, Mexico should impose tariffs on Chinese goods.

Previously, Trump had demanded that Mexico and Canada take stronger action to curb immigration and fentanyl flows into the U.S., or face tariff threats. Trump had initially planned to impose these tariffs starting on February 1, but delayed the move by a month. Meanwhile, in early February, the U.S. imposed an additional 10% tariff on all imports from China, prompting China to retaliate with a 10% tariff on U.S. goods. Trump then threatened to impose a 25% blanket tariff on Canada and Mexico.

In addition, Trump has ordered a 25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum, and signed a measure that could lead to reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners in April, as part of a plan to raise funds for upcoming tax and spending bills. Trump also plans to impose new tariffs on imported cars around April.

These escalating trade policies are increasingly impacting the cross-border e-commerce industry. If Mexico ultimately decides to impose tariffs on Chinese products, it will directly affect sellers who rely on cross-border e-commerce platforms. This move could increase costs for cross-border e-commerce, raising consumer prices and influencing purchasing decisions.

In the coming months, the tightening of global supply chains could cause delays in product availability, increase logistics costs for cross-border e-commerce, and put additional pressure on e-commerce platform operations. As trade disputes between countries intensify, cross-border e-commerce businesses need to closely monitor policy changes and adapt supply chain strategies to maintain competitiveness in this uncertain trade environment.