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Mexico’s China Trade Gap Hits Record $123 Billion in 2025 as New Tariffs Begin

Mexico has entered 2026 with import duties designed to boost domestic manufacturing.

Overview

  • Central bank data show a 2025 deficit of $123.053 billion with China, with imports at about $133.27 billion and exports near $10.215 billion, the widest gap since records began in 1993.
  • Import growth from China slowed to 2.9% in 2025 after a 12.8% rebound in 2024, though purchases have risen roughly 45% since 2020.
  • From January 2026 Mexico is applying higher duties on goods from countries without trade agreements, including a 50% rate in many cases and sector-specific rates up to 35% for automotive items.
  • Authorities have launched enforcement actions known as Operativos Limpieza targeting illegal merchandise markets, complementing tariffs as part of the government’s reshoring push.
  • The trade imbalance aligns with broader regional shifts, as Argentina’s share of imports from China rose to about 24% in 2025 from 6% a year earlier, according to Indec and Equilibra.