Mexico acting ‘under coercion to constrain’ China with 50% tariff on cars, says Beijing

Beijing says a move by Mexico to impose 50% tariffs on its cars was taken ‘under coercion to constrain China’. Photograph: Alex Plavevski/EPA

China’s government has vowed to “firmly protect” its interests against Mexico’s plan to increase tariffs on Chinese cars to 50%, a move Beijing said was made “under coercion to constrain China”.

On Wednesday Mexico said it intended to raise tariffs on car imports from China and other Asian countries from 20% to 50%, the maximum level allowed, in order to protect tens of thousands of manufacturing and industry jobs. However analysts suggested it was also designed to placate Donald Trump, who has been pressuring Mexico not to act as a “back door” for Chinese goods into the US.