Mexico weighs whether to impose tariffs on e-commerce Chinese imports

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is considering imposing tariffs on small imported goods from China to boost revenue and protect jobs in domestic industries, local media reported on Tuesday.

Officials are seeking new revenue sources to address the nation’s budget deficit and financial obligations inherited from her predecessor, Andres Lopez Obrador, according to the newspaper El Universal.

The proposed tariffs would target products bought through Chinese e-commerce platforms including Temu, Shein, AliExpress and Alibaba, according to the report.

AliExpress and Alibaba are subsidiaries of Alibaba Group Holding Limited, which owns the South China Morning Post.

Officials told El Universal that the websites had circumvented import duties and often evaded local taxes while failing to meet technical standards required for domestic manufacturers.

Governmental data show that this year Mexico will face its largest budget deficit in more than 30 years, reaching 5.9 per cent of its gross domestic product.