Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s Economy Secretary, said imports from China affected by new tariffs fell 28.4 percent in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. He presented the results during a Morena parliamentary session and defended the tariff measure as a tool to protect national industry.
Tariffs take effect across sectors
The tariff modifications, which entered into force on January 1, 2026, affected 1,463 product fractions from countries with which Mexico has no trade agreements. Across those affected categories, total imports declined 23.2 percent in January-May 2026 versus the year-earlier period.
The impact varied sharply by sector. Footwear imports fell 59 percent, while light automobile imports dropped 35 percent. Textile imports declined 13.9 percent and home appliance imports fell about 27 percent over the same five-month span.
Source: Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's Economy Secretary
