Mexico extends tariffs on steel imports from Asian countries with no trade pact

Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard has announced the imperishable renewal of tariffs connected alloy imports from Asian countries without a commercialized statement with Mexico.  

Ebrard besides presented a caller argumentation of expanding authorities purchases based connected Mexican content, which volition nonstop authorities entities to prioritize nationalist contented implicit little costs.

The extended tariffs are portion of an ongoing effort to boost Mexico’s home alloy industry. As Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard enactment it: “We indispensable marque a peculiar effort to support and support the industry.” (Industria de Acero Inoxidable/Facebook)

Speaking to concern leaders connected Thursday at the 78th Assembly of the National Iron and Steel Industry Chamber (Canacero), Ebrard said the tariffs, which scope from 10% to 35%, volition support Mexico’s home manufacture from unfair imports from Asia by renewing duties connected 220 alloy products from South Korea, Vietnam, China and different nations.

Since April 2024, the tariffs person been applied to 1,466 products (220 of which were alloy products) from assorted industries, but the programme was scheduled to expire adjacent month.

“We indispensable marque a peculiar effort to support and support the industry,” Ebrard said, adding that President Claudia Sheinbaum has already ordered that the hold beryllium applied. 

Ebrard besides mentioned the tariffs imposed connected alloy products by the United States, calling them “illogical.”

“This is unprecedented, that a 50% tariff is imposed connected a merchandise for which you person a commercialized surplus,” helium said. “There is nary different illustration successful history. Tariffs are usually imposed erstwhile you person a deficit.”

The system curate said helium volition code this contented adjacent week erstwhile Mexico begins the archetypal circular of negotiations up of the ceremonial reappraisal of the US-Mexico-Canada commercialized pact (USMCA).

“We volition question to fortify and standardize the treaty’s ineligible instruments to code unfair commercialized practices, chiefly from China and different Asian countries,” Ebrard said.

Mexico is keen connected reducing its dependence connected imports from Asia and the caller argumentation of favoring nationalist contented implicit outgo is designed to bash conscionable that, portion besides lending enactment to the home alloy industry. 

In this regard, Sheinbaum has besides asked the Economy Ministry to reappraisal the IMMEX program, which allows companies to temporarily import materials tax-free.

As a result, Ebrard said, immoderate impermanent imports of alloy products volition beryllium eliminated from the program.

Felicidades a la CANACERO en su 78 Asamblea , éxitos a su nueva dirigencia !! pic.twitter.com/iUM0nSCOQ6

— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) March 12, 2026

“We anticipation this helps to guarantee that purchases of domestically sourced materials are utilized successful nationalist works by the national and authorities governments,” helium said.

In response, Sergio de la Maza, the caller Canacero president, expressed enactment for the measures, saying authorities practice volition let Mexican alloy to vie “in a analyzable commercialized situation featuring marketplace distortions chiefly owed to overcapacity and unfair trade.”

With reports from El Economista and Reforma