At the China–CELAC Forum in Beijing on May 14, 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged an open-door trade policy with Mexico—welcoming more Mexican imports and encouraging investment—as both nations seek to deepen economic ties amid global trade pressures.
At the fourth China–CELAC Forum ministerial meeting in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Mexican counterpart Juan Ramón de la Fuente agreed to strengthen bilateral trade ties, with Beijing pledging an open-door policy for Mexican exports and promising to facilitate Chinese investment in Mexico.
Wang told de la Fuente that “China welcomes more Mexican products in its market and will encourage Chinese companies to invest in Mexico,” according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry cited by Reuters. He emphasized Beijing’s readiness to deepen strategic mutual trust, share its modernization experience, and “offer the vast opportunities of its supersized market,” as reported by CGTN.
Bilateral relations between China and Mexico date back to 1972, when diplomatic ties were first established. Over five decades, economic engagement has grown substantially: two-way trade reached US $123 billion in 2023, up from virtually zero at the turn of the century, making China Mexico’s second-largest trading partner. Chinese foreign direct investment in Mexico has totaled about $2.5 billion since 1999, with major Chinese multinationals—including Hisense, Huawei, Lenovo, and ZTE—operating across the country, while Mexican brands such as Gruma, Grupo Bimbo, Nemak, and Softtek have expanded into China.
Despite this growth, the trade balance remains heavily skewed. Mexico imported nearly US $130 billion in Chinese goods last year, ranging from electronics and machinery to textiles, whereas exports to China—primarily copper concentrates and auto parts—were valued at under $20 billion in 2023.
To address this imbalance, Mexico’s government launched Plan México to diversify supply chains and protect domestic industry. Measures include new tariffs on select Chinese textiles and clothing, raids on outlets selling pirated goods, and support programs for local manufacturers. Last July, Finance Minister Rogelio Ramírez de la O warned that “China sells to us but doesn’t buy from us,” underscoring concerns over non-reciprocal trade.
In their bilateral talks, Wang also proposed that China and Mexico collaborate to resist and oppose “unilateral acts” and uphold the rules of free trade—a veiled reference to recent U.S. tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Parallel to the Mexico meeting, President Xi Jinping used the CELAC platform to announce nearly $10 billion in new yuan-denominated credit lines for Latin America and the Caribbean, along with visa-free travel for five countries. Xi framed these initiatives under the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to bolster infrastructure, trade, and financial cooperation across the region. Trade between China and Latin America hit $515 billion in 2024, a steep rise from $12 billion in 2000.
Wang highlighted potential areas for expanded cooperation, including clean energy, artificial intelligence, 5G telecommunications, and cybersecurity. These sectors are seen as priority growth engines, with Chinese firms eyeing investment in Mexico’s renewable energy projects and technology partnerships.
Yet experts caution that Beijing’s “encouragement” must translate into concrete projects. Jorge Guajardo, former Mexican ambassador to China, noted last year that “China, and Chinese companies, have a long history of making investment announcements they don’t follow up on,” warning that rhetoric does not always equal realization.
Washington remains vigilant. The United States, Mexico’s largest trading partner, has expressed concern that closer China-Mexico ties could undermine the USMCA free-trade pact and allow Chinese-made goods to enter the U.S. tariff-free via Mexican assembly plants. In April 2024, U.S. lawmakers successfully pressed Mexico to withhold incentives from Chinese electric-vehicle makers, illustrating U.S. leverage on investment screening.
Looking ahead, Mexico is due to commence the USMCA review in 2026. Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard has signaled that negotiations could begin in the second half of 2025 to provide clarity to exporters and investors, as Mexico seeks to balance its strategic autonomy with the necessity of maintaining strong ties with both Beijing and Washington.
As global trade tensions persist, the China-Mexico pledge to open doors to mutual commerce and jointly oppose trade unilateralism highlights both nations’ efforts to pursue an independent economic agenda while navigating the strategic pressures emanating from U.S.-China rivalry.
