The National Chamber of Metallurgical Industry of Mexico (CANACERO) welcomed the approval by the Mexican Congress of the reform of the Law on General Taxes on Imports and Exports (LIGIE) proposed by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The reform imposes higher import tariffs on a number of goods, including steel originating from countries with which Mexico does not have a free trade agreement.
The tariff reform comes at a particularly critical time for the Mexican steel industry, according to CANACERO. Since the U.S. imposed Section 232 tariffs, steel exports from Mexico to the United States have fallen by about 50 percent.
At the same time, domestic steel production and consumption have weakened significantly. Between January and October 2025, both measures fell to historically low levels compared to the same period in 2024. CANACERO also highlighted the persistent impact of unfair trade practices, especially in Asian countries, as a key factor undermining market conditions.
Tariff reform is seen as a key step to stabilize the sector
In this context, CANACERO called the new tariffs a fundamental step towards overcoming the current crisis facing the steel sector. The Chamber expects the reform to support domestic steel production, encourage import substitution, and help increase national content in steel-consuming industries.
These goals are closely aligned with the priorities of Plan Mexico, the government's industrial strategy aimed at strengthening the nation's manufacturing capacity, strengthening supply chains, and enhancing economic resilience.
Alignment with trading partners and regionalization goals
.CANACERO acknowledged the actions of the Mexican government, noting that the reform proposed by the Ministry of Economy brings Mexico's trade protection system closer to those applied by its main trading partners.
The Chamber emphasized that this measure represents significant progress towards deeper regionalization in North America with the long-term goal of creating a tariff-free regional market once competitive markets are restored conditions.
Finally, CANACERO confirmed its full willingness to cooperate with the Mexican government in supporting the implementation of the reform. The organization said it remains committed to working together on additional
