Mexico Demands Removal Of US Tariffs

Mexico's steel industry has asked the United States to lift import duties on Mexican steel pending the completion of the revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The gist of the announcement is that the tariffs that the United States has supported against Mexico and other countries since June are inappropriate and have put the North American free market at risk.

“Although the steel and aluminum sectors are among those affected today, we must be aware that at any time other sectors may be affected under this proposal, which will nullify the benefits of the treaty,” concludes CANACERO.

“The Mexican government needs to protect its national industry and ask that section 232 (aluminum and steel tariffs) for Mexico be removed pending negotiations,” he added.

In June, the US applied 25 percent tariffs on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum imports from Mexico, the European Union and Canada.

Mexican steel exports to the United States fell 37 percent in a month after tariffs were applied, according to CANACERO. Meanwhile, exports from the United States to Mexico continued.

Mexico and the United States announced an agreement in principle on Monday to revise the NAFTA agreement. The Canadian negotiating team has been reviewing the agreement in Washington since Tuesday.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that an agreement could be reached between all three countries to exceed the Friday deadline set by Trump.

Negotiations to rewrite NAFTA began last year at the urging of Trump, who called NAFTA the worst deal the United States has signed. He threatened to give it up several times.