Trade Cases

CRU: Mexico to toughen controls on steel imports
Written by CRU Americas
April 12, 2024
To ease trade tensions with the United States, the economy ministry in Mexico is preparing measures to strengthen definitions on steel being shipped into the country.
Mexico has faced accusations it is being used as a route for steel and aluminum produced in Asia to be sent on to the US, so-called triangulation.
Earlier this year, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai noted in a meeting with Mexico’s secretary of economy, Raquel Buenrostro, that the US has the right to reimpose 25% import duties on steel and 10% on aluminum.
The Section 232 tariffs on Mexico, implemented in 2018, were suspended in 2019 ahead of the USMCA trade agreement going into effect in 2020.
To avoid the levies’ return, the economy ministry said it would update documentation and information requirements for submission of automatic import notices for steel products on mill and quality certificates, Mexican media reported.
A preliminary draft to the changes is before the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement and will be subject to public comment before a final version is published in the Official Gazette and the changes become effective.
Canacero, a Mexican steel trade association, has bristled at suggestions that the country acts as a conduit for steel going into the US from other countries.
This article was first published by CRU. Learn more about CRU’s services at www.crugroup.com/analysis.
CRU Americas
Read more from CRU AmericasLatest in Trade Cases

Price on Trade: New EU steel tariffs don’t mean the US should weaken its stance
Any steel imports into the EU that exceed the new, lower quota level would be subject to a 50% tariff, which represents a major increase from the EU’s current 25% out-of-quota tariff. This move would largely align the EU’s steel tariff rate with Canada and the United States.

Global steel forum sets 2026 framework deadline as US ups pressure on excess capacity
Global steelmakers sounded the alarm Friday over the deepening excess steelmaking capacity crisis. Ministers at the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) in Gqeberha, South Africa, pledged to...

CRU: China’s indirect steel exports find new destination markets
The boom in China’s direct steel exports has not stopped this year, even with a rise in protectionist measures globally. The increase is driven by...

U.S. Steel sues Algoma over iron pellet shipments
U.S. Steel is suing Algoma over the Canadian flat-rolled producer's rejection of iron pellet shipments, arguing it has breached its contract.

US and Canada expect positive outcomes from tariff negotiations
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that they’ll be formulating a trade deal that works for both nations.