Mexico’s Economy Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, revealed with President Claudia Sheinbaum that the country has increased import duties for goods that impact its own textile industry by up to 35 per cent. There will be a 35 per cent import tax on finished textile goods and a 15 per cent import tax on textile merchandise. From now until 22nd April 2026, the hikes will be in effect.
Countries like Canada and the US through the USMCA, with which Mexico has a free trade deal, are immune from the new approach. The minister clarified that the levy was not targeted at any specific nation, despite speculation that it was aimed at low-cost imports from China.
One interpretation of the decision is that the Mexican Government is reaffirming its commitment to free trade on the continent as President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration approaches. Trump and Canadian officials have voiced concerns about the influx of low-cost Chinese goods into the North American market via Mexico.
Trump recently threatened Mexico and Canada with a 25 per cent tariff on all imports if they didn’t combat drug trafficking and unlawful border crossings. A rift arose between the two nations as Canada stressed that the scope of the issue in the US’s northern and southern borders was not equivalent.
