Trade Cases

CRU: Mexico to toughen controls on steel imports

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.