Mexico denies U.S. claims of tariff evasion via Chinese goods triangulation

President Claudia Sheinbaum has responded to a White House report alleging schemes to evade U.S. tariffs by re-exporting Chinese goods. Sheinbaum asserted that Mexico has repeatedly shown the United States that no such triangulation schemes are in place. Speaking at her regular press conference, she explained that goods imported into Mexico receive added value before being exported, a process conducted within the bounds of the law. She noted ongoing communication with the U.S. Department of Commerce and its trade representative, Jamieson Greer. The report, titled "The Great Transshipment Scam: Rise, Scope, and Costs," specifically pointed to practices like relabeling, repackaging, re-invoicing, document alteration, and false declarations to circumvent U.S. tariffs. Sheinbaum acknowledged that the U.S. has requested increased "rules of origin," meaning more components of exported goods should be manufactured in Mexico or the U.S. She stated that Mexico agrees with this principle but requires adjustments to the timeline for implementation. However, she reiterated that the alleged triangulation scheme is not as the U.S. is portraying it.

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This assertion that there is triangulation, we have demonstrated on several occasions that this is not the case. Goods arrive, have added value here, and are then exported within the law.