South Korea faces 35% tariff wall as Mexico targets Asian supply chains



Briefings South Korea faces 35% tariff wall as Mexico targets Asian supply chains Auto and electronics sectors lose logistical edge as Mexico City moves to curb Asian shipments ahead of USMCA review KOREA PRODecember 12, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Lawmakers at the San Lazaro Legislative Palace in Mexico City vote on the "sovereign re-industrialization" bill, Dec. 9, 2025 \| Image: Mexico's Chamber of Deputies Mexico’s Senate approved on Thursday a sweeping tariff package that imposes duties of up to 50% on imports from countries lacking a free trade agreement (FTA) with Mexico, explicitly targeting South Korea, China and India. The legislation, which passed the lower house on Dec. 9, sets the majority of rates at 35% and covers strategic intermediate goods including steel, aluminum, electronics and automotive components. The measures are scheduled to remain in force through 2026, serving as a protective bridge until the upcoming reviewof the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). While Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has framed the tariffs as a © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01South Korea’s CPTPP push exposes the cost of turning trade gains into consensus 02AI storage boom gives South Korea battery makers an EV overcapacity lifeline 03South Korea’s Mexico strategy runs into the hard limits of USMCA politics 04Preschool test ban forces South Korea’s English hagwons to rethink placement 05Lee Jae Myung’s Wall Street pitch tests South Korea’s capital market credibility 06US midterm clock raises stakes for South Korea’s $200 billion investment talks 07Lee’s Hormuz red line tests South Korea’s leverage in $350 billion US talks 08South Korea’s AI data center boom is colliding with the true cost of power

Briefings

South Korea faces 35% tariff wall as Mexico targets Asian supply chains

Auto and electronics sectors lose logistical edge as Mexico City moves to curb Asian shipments ahead of USMCA review

KOREA PRODecember 12, 2025

South Korea faces 35% tariff wall as Mexico targets Asian supply chains

Lawmakers at the San Lazaro Legislative Palace in Mexico City vote on the "sovereign re-industrialization" bill, Dec. 9, 2025 | Image: Mexico's Chamber of Deputies

Mexico’s Senate approved on Thursday a sweeping tariff package that imposes duties of up to 50% on imports from countries lacking a free trade agreement (FTA) with Mexico, explicitly targeting South Korea, China and India. The legislation, which passed the lower house on Dec. 9, sets the majority of rates at 35% and covers strategic intermediate goods including steel, aluminum, electronics and automotive components.

The measures are scheduled to remain in force through 2026, serving as a protective bridge until the upcoming reviewof the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). While Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has framed the tariffs as a

South Korea faces 35% tariff wall as Mexico targets Asian supply chains

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