Mexico’s Congress halts debate over proposed tariffs on China

Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The Mexican Chamber of Deputies decided to pause deliberations on the controversial tariff package against China after criticism from industry, diplomatic circles, and opposition lawmakers raised concerns about retaliation and damage to bilateral trade. The move appears aimed at creating room for political negotiation before enacting potentially destabilizing measures.

The proposed tariffs envisioned duties as high as 50% on imports from countries lacking free trade agreements, with China expected to be one of the most affected. The initiative has been central to Sheinbaum’s protectionist agenda, but critics warn it lacks political consensus and could provoke trade reprisals.

Industry groups and rival parties argue that imposing steep tariffs without diplomatic groundwork or technical safeguards may deter Chinese investment already operating in Mexico. Meanwhile, China’s initiation of an investigation into Mexico’s trade barriers has escalated the stakes, suggesting that the congressional pause is an attempt to avoid open conflict before securing internal and international support.

Officials from the Executive branch indicated that the suspended tariff proposal may still be revised, with adjustments such as sector exemptions and automatic review mechanisms intended to soften the blow on vulnerable sectors like automotive and electronics. The pause signals gravitational pressure from manufacturers, local legislators, and diplomatic actors aiming to temper aggressive trade postures.

* Original text in Spanish. Translated by Large Language Model (LLM) technology.

Main Source:

Congreso de México pausa debate sobre aranceles a importaciones de China – Bloomberg

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