AsianFin -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday her government is weighing new tariffs on imports from countries without trade agreements with Mexico, including China, as part of a broader effort to protect domestic industry.

The tariffs would form a key plank of “Plan Mexico,” an initiative designed to strengthen local manufacturers and offset the impact of U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on certain Mexican exports.

“We are considering imposing certain tariffs,” Sheinbaum said during her daily press conference. “These will apply to countries that don’t have trade agreements with Mexico, including China.”

The comments highlight Sheinbaum’s strategy to navigate escalating trade frictions with the United States—Mexico’s largest trading partner—while addressing growing concerns about competition from Chinese imports.

Mexico currently has trade deals with more than 50 countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union. China, however, does not have a free trade agreement with Mexico, making it a likely target of new measures.