What changed in Mexico's 2026 tariffs on imports from non-FTA countries?

What exactly did Mexico change on 1 January 2026?

Mexico amended the duty rates (the cuota, or arancel) of specific lines of its import and export tariff schedule. The change did not create a new tax on Chinese goods by name. It raised the general rate on 1,463 listed lines, and the rate applies to imports that do not benefit from a trade agreement. Because China has no free trade agreement with Mexico, most Chinese-made goods under those lines pay the new rate.

The decree also says that tariff lines not mentioned stay as they were, and its fourth transitory article lets the Secretaría de Economía set up specific mechanisms for imports from countries without a free trade agreement, with the stated goal of guaranteeing the supply of inputs in competitive conditions (DOF decree). EY notes that such mechanisms could include import quotas with preferential rates, and that PROSEC preferences stay available only to authorized producers (EY México).

Which products and countries does the increase hit?

The decree names tariff lines, not companies or countries, and the countries come from the exclusion: goods from partners with a trade agreement in force are not covered. Clark Hill lists China, Korea, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand and Turkey among the affected countries and the United States, Canada, Japan and Singapore among the exempt partners (Clark Hill, 18 Dec 2025). Thomson Reuters adds Vietnam to the countries named in the coverage.

We counted the lines in the decree's table by chapter of the tariff schedule. Textiles and apparel dominate.

If your product sits in none of these groups, do not assume you are safe: the table is a summary, and only your exact tariff code answers the question.

How high are the duties, and why do sources differ?

Published summaries disagree on the range. Clark Hill reports 10% to 50%, with automobiles and auto parts highest. Thomson Reuters reports about 5% to 50%, with most lines capped at 35% (Thomson Reuters). The decree text settles it: rates run from 5% to 50%, and two steel-related lines show an exempt rate.

What the decree text shows

Counting the table, 669 lines carry 25% and 612 carry 35%, which is 1,281 lines or 88% of the total. Another 76 lines carry 30%. At the low end, 11 lines carry 5% and 33 carry 7%, mostly in plastics and vehicles. At the top, 18 lines carry 50%: 13 in vehicles and 5 in steel articles. The remaining lines carry rates such as 10%, 20% or 36%.

So the practical answer for a typical apparel, textile or steel product is that the duty is probably 25% or 35%, but the word probably matters: a product's rate is set line by line, and a customs broker reads the line.

Does a free trade agreement still protect your goods?

Yes, for goods that truly originate in a partner country. EY explains that goods qualifying as originating under Mexico's trade agreements are exempt from the new rates, provided the importer holds valid proof of origin and declares the right identifier on the customs declaration (EY México, 2 Jan 2026). The decree text makes the same distinction through its reference to countries without a trade agreement in force.

Origin is not the port you ship from. Preferences depend on the rules of origin of each agreement, which look at where the goods are made or sufficiently transformed. A Chinese product shipped through another country does not become a partner-country product by routing alone. A customs broker should assess any origin strategy before you rely on it.

How much does each duty rate add to landed cost?

The duty is not the only cost it moves. Because VAT is calculated on the customs value plus the import duty plus other charges (SAT import guide), a higher duty also raises the VAT bill. The table shows one illustrative shipment: 1,000 units, goods US$20,000, freight and insurance US$2,500, a customs fee modeled at 0.8% and 16% VAT.

Broker fees, storage, special duties and local transport are not included, and the customs fee is a simplification whose real amount is set in the Ley Federal de Derechos and updated every six months (SAT). Use the landed-cost calculator with your own numbers.

The pricing lesson is plain: build the duty into your price before the first order, and do not count on a margin that disappears if the rate is 35% instead of 10%.

What can change next, and where should you check?

The schedule keeps moving. The Cámara de Diputados lists the decrees that have modified the tariff schedule, including ones published on 31 December 2025, 23 April 2026 and 13 October 2026 (Cámara de Diputados, consolidated law page). We read the two latest ones.

The decrees after the 2026 reform

The 23 April 2026 decree sets duties on 185 tariff lines at 5% to 35% in sectors such as chemicals, textiles, steel, auto parts and furniture, adjusts PROSEC, does not single out any country, and keeps trade-agreement preferences for qualifying origin (DOF via SIDOF). The 13 October 2026 decree changes one line, 9803.00.01 (parts for car assembly), from 10% to exempt for five years for authorized terminal automotive companies (DOF via SIDOF). Neither is presented as repealing the reform of 29 December 2025, but your broker should check whether your line was touched.

Because rates and programs can change by decree, check the current text before each shipment, and ask your customs broker to confirm that the rate on the pedimento (the customs declaration) matches the current schedule.

What to do before your next shipment

1. Find your tariff code

   Ask a licensed customs broker (agente aduanal) to classify your product under the Mexican schedule.

2. Look the line up in the decree

   Check whether the code is among the 1,463 lines and which rate it carries.

3. Check origin documents

   Confirm whether any of your goods genuinely qualify as originating under a trade agreement, and what proof is needed.

4. Recompute landed cost

   Use the calculator at the real rate, then ask the broker for a formal figure.

5. Reprice or renegotiate

   Update prices and contract terms so that the duty is shared or built in on purpose.

6. Tighten your paperwork

   Keep supplier declarations, origin proofs and product descriptions consistent across invoices and labels. See how a Chinese brand starts selling in Mexico.

7. Re-check the schedule

   Read the current text on the day you ship, as decrees continue to appear.

Who confirms your exact duty, and where do we fit?

Your customs broker confirms the code and the rate, and you pay the broker directly. Xin Puente is not a customs broker, importer or law firm, and we do not give customs, tax or legal advice. We introduce you to independent, licensed brokers, coordinate with them in Chinese, and help you market and sell afterwards, including on Mercado Libre (our Mercado Libre guide).

We may receive referral fees from partners and say so openly, and you always choose who you work with. The free assessment gives you a landed-cost estimate within 48 hours, based on the duty rate you give us.

Sources

• Diario Oficial de la Federación (via SIDOF, Secretaría de Gobernación): Decreto por el que se reforman diversas fracciones arancelarias de la Tarifa de la LIGIE, 29 Dec 2025
• Diario Oficial de la Federación (via SIDOF): Decreto por el que se modifica la Tarifa de la LIGIE y el Decreto PROSEC, 23 Apr 2026
• Diario Oficial de la Federación (via SIDOF): Decreto por el que se modifica la Tarifa de la LIGIE, 13 Oct 2026
• Cámara de Diputados: Ley de los Impuestos Generales de Importación y de Exportación (texto vigente y decretos que modifican la Tarifa)
• Thomson Reuters: Mexico approves tariff hikes on imports from China (15 Dec 2025)
• EY México: Nuevos aranceles de importación (boletín fiscal, 2 Jan 2026)
• Clark Hill: Mexico Approves Significant Tariff Increases on Imports from Non-FTA Countries (18 Dec 2025)
• SAT: Contribuciones que pueden causarse con motivo de la importación

Rules and figures change. Before you decide, check the official sources and confirm with a licensed professional.

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