Mexico's Congress has passed a tariff bill that will impose tariffs ranging from 5% to 50% on more than 1,400 products from Asian countries that have not signed a free trade agreement with Mexico, with Chinese goods being the most affected. The bill was passed with 76 votes in favor, 5 against, and 35 abstentions, covering areas such as clothing, metals, and automotive parts. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the move aims to enhance domestic production capacity and protect industries such as automobiles and textiles, and is not specifically targeting China, but will apply to non-free trade partner countries including South Korea. This decision comes as Sheinbaum is engaging in high-stakes negotiations with Trump on trade issues, and the move is seen by many as aligning with the U.S. direction of strengthening trade barriers against China, potentially helping to alleviate the high tariffs the U.S. imposes on Mexican steel and aluminum products. Although Sheinbaum denied a direct link between the new tariffs and Trump's policies, and emphasized "respect for China and no desire for conflict," analysts point out that this marks a significant policy shift for Mexico, which has long advocated free trade, under the leadership of its left-wing Morena party.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/1851282410819594/
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