November 12, 2026. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will be a keynote speaker before the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) at the summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 17–19. At Thursday's press conference she and Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said the trip aims to attract investment and learn about Chinese technology in health and renewable energy.
Expansión Política says ABAC brings together 1,000 business leaders from the 21 APEC economies; Mexico News Daily quotes Ebrard as saying more than 1,000. Ebrard added that 52 % of Mexico's foreign direct investment comes from APEC countries.
Smart hospitals and solar on the agenda
Sheinbaum wants to study China's smart hospital model for possible use in Mexico's health system, Expansión Política reports. The agenda also covers solar energy and photovoltaic panels, other renewables, waste processing and science. She will present Plan México: "The objective of Plan Mexico is to produce more in Mexico and import less," she said, according to Mexico News Daily.
Meetings in Shenzhen
Sheinbaum will meet President Xi Jinping to strengthen trade and technology cooperation, plus representatives of Canada, Australia and Vietnam. It is her first trip to Asia in office; Ebrard, Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco and other ministers will travel with her, and Ebrard will stay longer in China for trade matters. Mexico will chair APEC in 2028.
"With China we have no free trade agreement, nor are we heading there," Sheinbaum said, as cited by Expansión Política. EL CEO reported in September that since January 1, 2026, Mexico applies tariffs of 5 % to 50 % on more than 1,400 tariff lines from China and other countries including India, Taiwan and South Korea.
Our take
When a government names priority sectors, projects and partnerships tend to follow. Solar panels, energy storage, medical equipment and building technology are fields where China has broad supply and Mexican demand may grow. Truck traffic in Shenzhen is restricted November 16–20, so adjust pickups there.
- Ask for DDP quotes that include tariffs and delivery.
- Check certifications and run a product inspection, especially on medical and electrical equipment.
- Meet suppliers in person with our business trips to China.
