US Urges Mexico to Impose Tariffs on Chinese Goods Amidst Trade Tensions

The Trump administration has reportedly pressed Mexico to impose its own tariffs on Chinese imports as a means of mitigating the impact of threatened US tariffs, Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.

This call was reportedly conveyed by US officials, including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, at a Thursday meeting in Washington with a Mexican delegation led by Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard. US Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett also attended the meeting.

The discussions come amid escalating trade tensions between the US and Mexico, stemming from President Donald Trump's threat to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods unless they take more significant steps to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking into the US. The tariff deadline, initially set for February 1, has been extended for a month.

Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been actively seeking to curb cheap imports from China, aiming to support domestic industries and appease the Trump administration. The Bloomberg report notes that while Mexico made no commitments regarding China during the meeting, both countries agreed to establish a working group to further discuss trade and tariff issues.

Ebrard, in a post on X, described the Washington meeting as the commencement of "constructive dialogue," with joint work slated to begin on Monday.

The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter. The Commerce Department, the Office of the US Trade Representative, and Mexico's Foreign Affairs and Economy ministries also have not issued statements.