On October 29, 2025, the Mexican Senate passed the 2026 budget proposal, deciding to impose temporary tariffs on 1,371 categories of imported goods, with the maximum tax rate reaching 50%.
The policy is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, and will be temporarily implemented until December 31, 2026.
As Mexico’s second-largest source of imports, Chinese enterprises exporting to Mexico are about to face a new round of major challenges.
Graduated Tariff + Clear Scope, Exemption for FTA PartnersOn November 1, the Mexican Ministry of Finance issued the Announcement on the Adjustment of Temporary Tariffs on Imported Goods for 2026, further clarifying the details of the tax hike, whose core points can be summarized as "graduated taxation, targeted application":
The tax hike covers 10 major commodity categories including automobiles, textiles, steel, plastics, and toys, accounting for 16.8% of Mexico’s total imported goods. Tax rates are set in gradients based on the added value of commodities:
- Raw materials and primary intermediate products: Additional tariff of 10%-15%
- Semi-finished products and key components: Additional tariff of 20%-35%
- Finished products and high-value-added goods: Additional tariff of 35%-50%
For the latest tax rates of specific products, please refer to the figure below:
- Taxable entities: Countries that have not signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Mexico, including China, Southeast Asian countries, South Korea, India, etc.;
- Exempt entities: 50 FTA partner countries such as the United States and Canada, whose goods exported to Mexico are not affected by this tax hike policy.
Build Risk-Resistant Mechanisms to Stabilize Exports to MexicoDespite the challenges brought by the tax hike policy, it also urges enterprises to accelerate global layout and supply chain optimization. As an important market for "nearshoring outsourcing", Mexico’s long-term potential is still worthy of attention. It is recommended that enterprises take advance responses from the following aspects:
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Seize the buffer period for stock-up: For categories with low profit margins and high tariff cost ratios (such as general merchandise, small home appliances, etc.), enterprises can moderately stock up during the current window of low tax rates, or pre-position goods through Zhonjin’s self-operated overseas warehouse in Mexico to control costs.
This tariff adjustment not only brings cost pressure but also creates new competitive opportunities for enterprises with compliant operations and flexible supply chains.
Zhonjin will continue to track policy dynamics and provide enterprises with one-stop services including tariff verification, logistics optimization, and compliant declaration, helping them achieve steady development amid fluctuations.
