Mexico, under pressure not to serve as a back door for Chinese goods entering the United States, has proposed a 50 percent duty on car imports from the Asian giant -- up from 15-20 percent.

The initiative, contained in a bill submitted by the government to Congress, seeks to assuage US President Donald Trump -- who has repeatedly urged trading partners to increase duties on China -- while also bolstering Mexico's industrial sector.

The White House has said Chinese producers are abusing a free-trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada to send goods northward over the Mexican border tariff-free.

Beijing criticised the proposed tariffs on Thursday, with a foreign ministry spokesman saying, without mentioning the United States, that China "firmly opposes any coercion."

Mexica

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