https://www.scmp.com/rss/519116/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday defended her government’s decision to impose new import tariffs, hours after the Senate approved legislation allowing duties of up to 50 per cent on more than 1,400 products from Asian countries. The measure, widely seen as aimed at curbing Chinese imports, comes as Mexico prepares for a review of its trade agreement with the United States and Canada next year. Sheinbaum described the move as part of her administration’s plan to strengthen domestic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336130/mexico-slaps-tariffs-50-cent-chinese-goods-us-trade-pact-review-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336130/mexico-slaps-tariffs-50-cent-chinese-goods-us-trade-pact-review-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:56:42 +0000 Wendy Cutler,Stephen Olson Wendy Cutler,Stephen Olson As the United States begins its public consultation process for a 2026 review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Asian economies should pay close attention. The USMCA review will most likely yield one of four results: a renewal of the agreement for another 16 years until 2042, an agreement to allow the pact to expire in 2036, a more immediate termination upon six months’ notice by any party, or a partial or complete overhaul of the agreement. Given the litany of trade complaints levelled... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3326820/why-asia-has-huge-stakes-us-mexico-canada-trade-deal-review?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3326820/why-asia-has-huge-stakes-us-mexico-canada-trade-deal-review?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Stock markets worldwide fell sharply on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump threatened to take a sledgehammer to the global economy, sparking fears of a global trade war following his imposition of a blanket 25 per cent levy on all Canadian and Mexican imports and an additional 10 per cent on Chinese goods. Pressured by their respective companies and a desire not to look weak domestically, America’s three biggest trading partners teed up retaliatory tariffs. The three account for some 42 per... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3301069/stock-markets-tumble-globally-new-trump-tariffs-hit-china-canada-and-mexico?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3301069/stock-markets-tumble-globally-new-trump-tariffs-hit-china-canada-and-mexico?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Mar 2025 21:31:08 +0000 When Donald Trump emerged victorious from the US presidential election in November, some at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lamented the result but none professed surprise. For months, officials and analysts linked to the ministry had prepared for the outcome, anticipating the former president was the favourite to win the White House. And the prevailing view was that any alarm was unwarranted, a senior diplomatic source said. Many forecast that Trump’s Latin American agenda would likely... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3292807/donald-trumps-choice-marco-rubio-top-us-diplomat-leaves-latin-america-bracing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3292807/donald-trumps-choice-marco-rubio-top-us-diplomat-leaves-latin-america-bracing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Dec 2024 18:00:08 +0000 This article has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. Mexico’s leader has assured that her country’s ties with the US after Donald Trump’s election victory would be favourable, though experts warned Chinese investments there and revisions to a key free-trade agreement could complicate matters. Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office last month,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3285495/mexican-leader-convinced-us-ties-will-stay-positive-after-donald-trumps-election-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3285495/mexican-leader-convinced-us-ties-will-stay-positive-after-donald-trumps-election-win?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Nov 2024 20:31:00 +0000 Sino-Mexican trade is not reciprocal and the North American country must review China’s practices, its finance minister said on Saturday, echoing American concerns about industrial overcapacity. Mexico buys “US$119 billion a year from China and we sell US$11 billion”, according to Rogelio Ramirez de la O, who accused Beijing of boosting its share of global exports “at the expense of North America”. Washington had “facilitated China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, opening the door for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3271476/chinas-trade-mexico-not-reciprocal-says-finance-minister-echoing-us-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3271476/chinas-trade-mexico-not-reciprocal-says-finance-minister-echoing-us-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:10:18 +0000 Threats to globalisation seem to be everywhere these days. The most recent high-profile dispute is in the rapidly-emerging global market for electric vehicles (EVs). Technologically-advanced Chinese EVs have found themselves the target of tariffs and anti-dumping probes. Tariffs hikes set to take effect in the European Union and potentially in Canada threaten to deny consumers in these markets access to competitive products, although there are signs that EU negotiators are eager to engage with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3268125/globalisation-isnt-going-away-its-getting-multipolar-makeover?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3268125/globalisation-isnt-going-away-its-getting-multipolar-makeover?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jun 2024 08:30:08 +0000 The US has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and the European Union is expected to do the same, but most countries in the Global South have not followed suit. In particular, Mexico has become China’s second-largest car importer and has seen a recent surge in Chinese investment. China, the main trading partner of many Southeast Asian and African states, is becoming an important trading country for South America, long seen as America’s backyard. Given that the Global South represents 88... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3265494/mexico-ground-zero-china-takes-global-south-battle-us-backyard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3265494/mexico-ground-zero-china-takes-global-south-battle-us-backyard?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Jun 2024 21:30:09 +0000 Argentina’s Foreign Minister Diana Mondino and finance officials visited China this week amid an urgent need to renew their US$6.5 billion currency swap agreement. These swaps were frozen by China last December after the election of President Javier Milei, who labelled the government in Beijing “assassins” during his election campaign and has vowed to pivot towards the US. Milei has since moderated his stance, recognising the economic challenges facing Argentina. With dwindling foreign exchange... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3260952/why-china-should-reassess-its-strategy-argentina-and-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3260952/why-china-should-reassess-its-strategy-argentina-and-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 May 2024 08:30:11 +0000 Mexico, often perceived in China as a remote and dangerous place, has also become a gold rush destination for Chinese companies looking to serve both the local market and the US. As they learn to adapt to a new environment, Washington policymakers are wary. The once and possibly future US president, Donald Trump, is threatening to slap tariffs on products coming from Mexico, including electric vehicles, to block China. In the second of a three-part series, the South China Morning Post looks at... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3257955/chinese-manufacturers-mexico-tread-thin-ice-amid-threat-more-us-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3257955/chinese-manufacturers-mexico-tread-thin-ice-amid-threat-more-us-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:00:12 +0000 In the United States, sharp disagreements exist over numerous critical national issues. However, there is bipartisan consensus on reducing dependence on China. The latest initiative from both the Republican and Democratic parties involves raising tariffs or invoking national security concerns to prevent Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) from entering the US market. While blocking Chinese EVs from the US market might safeguard American jobs in the short term, it could hinder EV adoption and limit... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3254258/us-cant-beat-china-so-it-should-join-it-ev-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3254258/us-cant-beat-china-so-it-should-join-it-ev-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Mar 2024 21:30:14 +0000 For the first time in 17 years, China was dethroned as the United States’ top source of imports, offering fresh evidence that Washington’s tariffs and supply-chain diversification efforts are bearing fruit. Mexico outpaced China in 2023 in terms of total value of goods shipped to the US, according to data from the US Census Bureau released on Wednesday. Total US imports from China last year reached US$427.2 billion, falling by 20.3 per cent compared to 2022, and slightly higher than the US$421.1... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3251318/china-dethroned-top-source-us-imports-after-17-years-replaced-mexico-census-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3251318/china-dethroned-top-source-us-imports-after-17-years-replaced-mexico-census-data?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:16:04 +0000 Though sidestepping Washington’s tariffs has been a prime incentive for Chinese manufacturers to boost their investments in Mexico, the United States’ southern neighbour offers far more than an alternate route into the world’s richest country – as well as its fair share of risk, analysts warned. The escalation has been unmistakable. Export value for automotive components sent to Mexico, for instance, surged 35 per cent in 2018 – the same year strict trade restrictions were imposed by Washington... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3250695/china-has-made-mexico-premier-investment-destination-it-us-detour-or-something-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3250695/china-has-made-mexico-premier-investment-destination-it-us-detour-or-something-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Feb 2024 22:00:12 +0000 John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath portrays the struggles of tenant farmers from Oklahoma during the Great Depression. These people, driven from their land by drought, embark on a journey to California in search of a better life. Much like the migration documented by Steinbeck, another narrative is unfolding in the currents of globalisation and economic realignment. In this evolving landscape, Mexico and Central America are poised to leverage advantages once deemed unfavourable... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3233150/us-china-trade-war-migration-mexico-central-america-show-firms-adapting-new-global-business?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3233150/us-china-trade-war-migration-mexico-central-america-show-firms-adapting-new-global-business?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Sep 2023 07:30:10 +0000 Supply chain issues used to largely be the preserve of businesses. These days, supply chains are a priority area for intensive US government intervention. To enhance the US’ “supply chain security and resilience”, the Biden administration is doubling down on reducing what it calls “dependencies on China”. China enjoys a large global market share in several sectors, including rare earths, electrical vehicle batteries and solar panels. Yet few non-Western countries see this as a cause for concern.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3225621/us-reshaping-global-supply-chains-ultimately-self-serving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3225621/us-reshaping-global-supply-chains-ultimately-self-serving?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:15:18 +0000 The US has endured over six months of complaints from partners and allies in East Asia and Europe for its slew of industrial policies. These include the Chips and Science Act, the bipartisan infrastructure bill and Inflation Reduction Act, viewed as major successes for the Biden administration at home, but which have caused unease, particularly in Tokyo, Seoul and Brussels. Earlier this month, the European Commission (EC) announced the much-awaited Critical Raw Minerals Act and outlined its... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3214337/unlike-us-eus-green-industrial-policy-not-aimed-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3214337/unlike-us-eus-green-industrial-policy-not-aimed-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Mar 2023 13:30:19 +0000 A “reshoring” campaign waged in recent years to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States from China is largely ineffective and a related “nearshoring” bid to shift production to Mexico and Canada away from America’s economic rival has yet to yield dividends, government, business and academic leaders said on Tuesday. Despite 25 per cent tariffs imposed on Chinese products four years ago, the volume and value of US-China trade has only shifted slightly, according to experts and a report... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3211893/us-bid-cut-china-dependence-bringing-jobs-home-and-shifting-supply-chains-ineffective-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3211893/us-bid-cut-china-dependence-bringing-jobs-home-and-shifting-supply-chains-ineffective-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Feb 2023 23:01:10 +0000 Representatives of Canada and three Latin American nations said on Tuesday that they welcomed US efforts to reduce its dependence on China for pharmaceuticals by building supply chain alternatives with them. Canadian authorities are working with US counterparts on “regulatory cooperation and flexibility, which is going to limit undue regulatory barriers in pharmaceutical trade”, John Layton, trade counsellor at Ottawa’s US embassy, said at a virtual panel discussion held by the Centre for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3181717/us-drug-supply-chain-alternative-china-might-run-through-canada-latin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3181717/us-drug-supply-chain-alternative-china-might-run-through-canada-latin?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:45:53 +0000 A survey conducted in March revealed that 71 per cent of Americans continued to support the trade war against China that began in 2018. After four years, who is winning? Is it former president Donald Trump, who started the trade war against China by imposing an additional 25 per cent import tariff in 2018? Is it current US President Joe Biden, who has so far refused to end the trade war? Is it the Chinese manufacturers, which have dodged the increased tariffs by changing the “country of origin”?... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3176534/time-biden-end-senseless-self-defeating-us-trade-war-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3176534/time-biden-end-senseless-self-defeating-us-trade-war-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 May 2022 17:30:15 +0000