Mexico's president cites "very good relationship" with China ahead of APEC

November 4, 2026. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said at her morning press conference that Mexico has good relations with both China and the United States, two weeks before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. "We have a very good relationship with China and a very good relationship with the US government too," she said, according to Prensa Latina.

According to EFE, she will travel to Shenzhen for the summit of the forum's 21 economies, her first visit to China since taking office in October 2024.

What the president said

Per EFE, Sheinbaum explained that Mexico's main economic partner is North America, with the US and Canada under the USMCA, and that Mexico also has trade ties with China. She acknowledged that Chinese companies operate in Mexico and that the country imports Chinese products, adding that even US automakers based in Mexico use components imported from China.

She also noted, according to both agencies, that Mexico has no free trade agreement with China, and defended the December 2025 decision to raise tariffs on some Chinese products under Plan México to protect domestic industry.

Mexico takes the APEC baton for 2028

Sheinbaum confirmed the trip on September 23. Proceso reported that one purpose is to receive from China the handover for Mexico to host APEC in 2028, after Vietnam in 2027. China's theme this year is "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together."

What it means for trade

Our take: a presidential visit to Shenzhen and Mexico's own APEC year in 2028 open a period of closer contact between governments, chambers and companies on both sides of the Pacific. Trade with China remains open and is part of Mexican manufacturing; some goods pay higher tariffs because there is no trade agreement, which can be managed with planning.

• Quote DDP so duties and taxes are in the price from the start.
• Run a landed cost calculation with the current tariff for your product.
• Use the closer ties to meet suppliers or buyers in person with our business trips to China.

• DDP and DAP door-to-door shipping
• Landed cost by country
• Business trips to China