Mexico announced steep duties on Tuesday on a raft of US products ranging from whiskey to apples in retaliation for the "unilateral adoption" by Washington of steel and aluminum tariffs.
The Mexican economy ministry published a list of American products that will be subject to duties of between 15 and 25 per cent, including pork, cheese and grapes.
The products concerned are for the most part agricultural goods, but some metal-based products such as steel plating and tubing are also included.
"Mexico has the right to take measures with equivalent commercial effects," the economy ministry said in a statement explaining the tariffs.
Mexico and other US allies including the European Union and Canada have hit back after US President Donald Trump announced stinging steel and aluminum tariffs that came into effect on Friday.
"Mexico can adjust the composition of the list of products originating from the United States," the ministry warned.
The tariff increases are designed to hit areas that are politically favorable to Trump, such as pork production, Mexican experts said.
The World Trade Organization received a complaint Tuesday from Mexico, a WTO official in Geneva said.
Mexico filed the complaint after Trump decided not to extend a temporary exemption granted in March to the EU, Canada and Mexico. On Friday, he imposed the 25 per cent tariffs on steel imports and 10 per cent on aluminum imports from Mexico.
The EU and Canada had already opened legal challenges at the WTO.