The measure, included in a bill submitted by Mexico’s government to Congress, aims both to strengthen the country’s industrial sector and to appease US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly pressed trading partners to raise duties on Chinese goods.

Washington has accused Chinese manufacturers of exploiting the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement by routing products through Mexico to enter the US market tariff-free.

If passed, the bill would impose a 50 per cent tariff on light vehicles imported from China and duties of 10 to 50 per cent on auto parts.

“China… firmly opposes any coercion by others to impose restrictions on China under various pretexts, which undermines China’s legitimate rights and interests,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters at a regular briefing, in a thinly veiled reference to the United States.

“We will resolutely safeguard our interests in accordance with actual circumstances,” he said.

Lin added that “China attaches great importance to the development of China-Mexico relations, and hopes that Mexico will move forward in the same direction with China.”