Shanghai, China.- China said Thursday it hoped Mexico would “correct its erroneous practices of unilateralism and protectionism as soon as possible» after the Senate approved tariffs of up to 50 percent on more than 1,400 products.

The measures will significantly damage the interests of trading partners such as China, said a spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, who called on Mexico to work with Beijing to safeguard bilateral economic and trade relations.

The spokesperson also recalled that in September the Ministry opened an investigation into trade and investment barriers against Mexico, and that these investigations continue their course, without specifying whether the approval of the recent tariffs will influence their outcome.

The spokesperson further stressed that China has always opposed any form of unilateral tariff increase, according to the statement released on the official website of the Ministry of Commerce.

The recent tariff hike approval by Mexico comes at a time when it prepares for the revision of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), scheduled for next year amid constant threats from US President Donald Trump.

The Chinese ministry said they approved countries resolving their differences through trade agreements, but no agreement should have as a condition that harms the development of world trade, or China’s legitimate interests.

The law approved on Wednesday by the Mexican Senate contemplates tariffs of between 5 and 50 percent from Jan. 1 on about 1,463 products from China and other Asian countries with which there is no trade agreement in sectors such as textiles, aluminum and plastics.

The products affected by this new law account for some $52 billion in imports, which is equivalent to 8.6 percent of the national total. According to the Mexican government, the reform will facilitate the protection of more than 320,000 jobs at risk.