Mexico hits back at Trump’s tariffs with tariffs of its own on US imports

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also rejected US allegations about alliances between her government and organised crime as ‘slander’

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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks to the crowd at an event marking her first 100 days in office on January 12. Photo: AP

Published: 9:57am, 2 Feb 2025Updated: 11:30am, 2 Feb 2025

Mexico will retaliate against tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump with tariffs and other measures of its own, President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced.

Sheinbaum said on Saturday that she had ordered her economy minister to implement tariff and non-tariff measures to defend her country’s interests, after the US slapped across-the-board duties on goods coming from Mexico.

In a lengthy social media post, Sheinbaum stressed that her government did not seek confrontation with its northern neighbour but collaboration and dialogue.

She said she had told her economy minister “to implement Plan B that we have been working on, which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defence of Mexico’s interests”.

Lorries drive towards the border to cross into the US at Otay commercial port in Tijuana, Mexico’s Baja California state. The US imported more than US$475 billion worth of Mexican products in 2023. Photo: AFP

The United States is by far Mexico’s most important foreign market, while Mexico in 2023 overtook China to become the top destination for US exports.

Mexico has been preparing possible retaliatory tariffs against imports from the US, ranging from 5 per cent to 20 per cent, on pork, cheese, fresh produce, as well as manufactured steel and aluminium, according to sources familiar with the matter. The auto industry would initially be exempt, they told Reuters.