[US Urges Mexico to Impose Tariffs on Chinese Steel, Mirroring US Model]

Published: Jul 28, 2026 11:15

Save

The US has proposed that Mexico impose import tariffs on steel and aluminum from countries outside North America, following the model of US Section 232, in a bid to restrict imports from China and build a common external tariff wall protecting preferential trade terms among the US, Mexico, and Canada. Mexico has expressed willingness to consider the proposal as part of negotiations to review the USMCA trade agreement, though specific tariff rates and product lists remain under discussion, with the US hoping to reach a framework agreement by the end of this year. Currently, the US imposes a 50% tariff on crude steel/aluminum from China and most other countries, while Mexico applies tariffs by product category, up to 25% for countries without an FTA; Mexico had previously offered to significantly cut its imports of Chinese steel to facilitate the talks. The third round of negotiations was recently held in Mexico City, attended by USTR Jamison Greer and Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, with the next round expected in Washington in September. Meanwhile, Mexico is also seeking to have US Section 232 tariffs on its own exports, currently 50% on steel/aluminum and 25% on autos, lifted as part of the same USMCA review.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

13 mins ago

[SMM Sheets & Plates Daily Comment] HRC futures surged alongside costs, with production still expected to edge down

Today, HRC futures prices strengthened significantly, with the most-traded contract closing at 3,340, up 1.49% intraday. In the spot market, prices increased by 30-50 yuan/mt overall, while intraday transactions were average; as futures rallied too fast, most traders adopted a wait-and-see attitude, and downstream buyers showed relatively low acceptance of high prices. On the fundamentals side, from the end of August to September, maintenance schedules for hot rolling have increased notably. This week, the impact from maintenance for hot rolling is expected to continue increasing, with production edging down. On the demand side, downstream buyers' willingness for concentrated purchases was not high, with most still in off-season sentiment, making it difficult to see significant improvement; in the short term, the pattern of weak supply and demand persists. However, on the cost side, with growth in hot metal, coupled with supply tightening due to Mongolian and Shanxi coal, and the expected first-round increase of coke, coking coal and coke led the gains, boosting market sentiment and driving finished steel prices higher. In summary, short-term HRC prices are expected to follow costs and hold up well.

13 mins ago

35 mins ago

Tangshan Qian'an Raises Steel Billet Price by 10 to 3,000 Yuan/mt on August 24 [SMM Steel]

[Steel Billet Price Adjustment] On August 24, Tangshan Qian'an plain square billet resources ex-factory, tax included, raised by 10, reported at 3,000 (yuan/mt). [SMM Steel]

35 mins ago

48 mins ago

Heavy Machinery Design Institute Forging Plant New No.5 High-Temperature Electric Furnace Power Supply System Project Cable Procurement Tender Notice

48 mins ago