Mexico overtakes China as the leading source of goods imported to US

For the first time in more than two decades, Mexico last year surpassed China as the leading source of goods imported to the United States.

For the first time in more than two decades, Mexico last year surpassed China as the leading source of goods imported to the United States.

The shift reflects the growing tensions between Washington and Beijing as well as US efforts to import from countries that are friendlier and closer to home.

Figures released Wednesday by the US Commerce Department show that the value of goods imported to the United States from Mexico rose nearly 5 per cent from 2022 to 2023, to more than US$475 billion. At the same time, the value of Chinese imports tumbled 20 per cent to US$427 billion.

The last time that Mexican goods imported to the United States exceeded the value of China's imports was in 2002.

Economic relations between the United States and China have severely deteriorated in recent years as Beijing has fought aggressively on trade and made ominous military gestures in the Far East.