Bloomberg
The Trump administration told Mexican officials that they should put their own duties on Chinese imports as part of their efforts to avoid tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump, while China called on the US to stop politicizing and weaponizing economic and trade issues.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was among US officials who conveyed that message at a meeting Thursday in Washington with Mexican delegation, including Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, sources said.
US Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett also attended the meeting.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has ramped up efforts to crack down on cheap imports from China, a move to support domestic industries as well as appease a Trump administration that's threatening 25 percent tariffs on its North American trade partners.
Mexico didn't make any commitment on China during the meeting, the people said, which ended with an agreement to establish a working group from both countries to continue exploring trade and tariff issues.
Ebrard said in a post on X that the Washington meeting was the start of "a constructive dialogue, and joint work will begin on Monday."
This came as China's Ministry of Commerce said the US government's actions, which strengthen reviews of business ties with China on security grounds, will seriously undermine the confidence of Chinese companies that are investing in the United States.
The ministry's comments followed the release of the America First Investment Policy, which named China among "adversaries" that systematically direct and facilitate investment in US companies and assets "to obtain cutting-edge technologies, intellectual property, and leverage in strategic industries."
China will closely monitor the US actions and will take necessary measures to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests, a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said.
In a separate statement yesterday, the Commerce Ministry said the proposed restrictive measures by the US against China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries are harmful to others as well as itself. Beijing urged Washington to respect facts and multilateral rules and to "stop its wrongdoings."
Meanwhile, Trump warned drugmakers in a private meeting that tariffs are coming and said companies should hustle to move overseas manufacturing to the US.
He also said Apple's chief executive Tim Cook plans to shift manufacturing from Mexico to the United States.
"He's going to start building," Trump said. "Very big numbers you have to speak to him. I assume they're going to announce it at some point."
Donald Trump is weaponizing trade. AFP, AP
