China Consul in Mexico Warns Protectionism Is a 'Dead End' Ahead of USMCA Review

At a business event in Tijuana, Chinese Consul General Fu Xinrong stated that unilateralism and protectionism serve no one's interests, labeling protectionism as a 'dead end.' Her comments, made just weeks ahead of a contentious USMCA trade deal review, were directed at Mexican business leaders, promoting Beijing's concept of shared modernization. While she refrained from mentioning the United States directly, her statements were clearly aimed at Washington, which intends to leverage the review for stricter rules of origin and to impose new restrictions on Chinese companies accused of using Mexico as a gateway into the U.S. Mexico has already enacted tariffs of up to 50% on numerous Chinese goods, citing alignment with North American economic security. The situation is particularly critical in Baja California, where a robust industrial cluster of Chinese manufacturers has developed over the last decade.