Recently, Mexico's Congress passed a tariff bill with far-reaching implications. Under the bill, starting January 1, 2026, Mexico will raise import tariffs on certain goods originating from countries without a free trade agreement (FTA) with Mexico. The new tariff rates will range from 10% to 50%, and China is among the affected countries.

Hundreds of containers belonging to the Mexico-dedicated freight forwarder "America Star" have been stranded at the port for an extended period, unable to clear customs, triggering collective rights protection by the consignors.

The cross-border logistics sector has once again come under scrutiny as three freight forwarding companies in Shenzhen have recently encountered operational collapses. How can exporters safeguard against the risk of losing both goods and funds?

The current landscape of cross-border logistics presents a dynamic blend of opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, cross-border trade volumes are experiencing significant growth; On the other hand, the operational environment is becoming increasingly complex.

Analysis indicates that as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) enters the review stage, the implementation standards of future rules of origin and customs inspection procedures may become even stricter, thereby posing higher requirements for regional supply chain compliance management.

On October 9, 2025, Mexican President Claudia Seinbaum officially announced at her daily press conference that the Mexican Congress would temporarily suspend approval of the government's proposed tariff increase on 1,371 products from China and other Asian countries

On September 10th, the Mexican government announced that it would carry out a comprehensive reform of import tariffs, raising the tariffs on automobiles from China and other Asian countries to 50%. This decision is intertwined with economic demands to protect domestic industries and geopolitical considerations in response to pressure from the United States.

Mexico has significantly increased tariffs on imports from non-free trade agreement countries, such as China. For instance, the tariff on packages valued under $2,500 has risen from 19% to 33.5%, and the tax exemption for goods under $50 has been abolished. Besides tariffs, Mexico also levies a 16% value-added tax (VAT), and if the Mexican RFC tax number is not registered, a withholding tax of up to 20% may be imposed, with the total tax burden potentially reaching as high as 53.5%.

Based on recent market data and industry analysis, ocean freight rates between China and Mexico are projected to remain elevated during the fourth quarter of 2025, accompanied by heightened volatility. At the outset of the quarter, freight rates may experience a strong upward trend due to peak season demand and policy-related uncertainties.

OOCL launches Transpacific Latin Pacific 8 (TLP8) to strength express linkage between Asia and Mexico