Mexico City (Reuters) – The Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday that her government was not looking for a conflict with countries on which she intends to raise the rates, including China.
“We don't want a conflict,” Sheinbaum said a morning conference, adding the measures were intended to stimulate Mexico's economy and that its government was in conversation with ambassadors from countries that were taken by the proposed measures.
Her government announced on Wednesday that the rates on Chinese cars increased to a maximum level of 50% as part of a broad revision of import duties over hundreds of goods, with an import of around $ 52 billion.
The measures against countries with which Mexico does not hold trade agreements, led to comments that Mexico had announced these measures to appease the top trading partner, the United States.
“That is not the goal,” Sheinbaum said when he was asked about this during the conference and said the measures were intended to strengthen local production capacity as part of an industrial strategy proposed for US President Donald Trump was chosen last year.
“What we want is to be able to discuss things without the need to generate a conflict,” she added.
After the measures, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that he hoped that the two nations could work together and that China opposed limitations under “different pretenses” and protect his interests.
(Reporting by Sarah Morland and Ana Isabel Martinez; Edit by Kylie Madry)
