Mexico to Request Exemption from US Steel, Aluminum Tariffs

The Mexican government will formally request exclusion from the 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports imposed by the US administration under President Donald Trump, says Mexico’s Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard. The request is planned for Friday, June 6, 2025.

Ebrard calls the tariffs "unjust, unsustainable, and inconvenient," emphasizing Mexico’s vulnerability given that about 80% of its exports are destined for the United States, its largest trading partner. “We will ask on Friday for Mexico to be excluded,” he tells reporters.

The basis for Mexico’s exclusion request hinges on the fact that the United States holds a steel trade surplus with Mexico. According to industry data, by the end of 2024, the United States had a surplus of 2.4 million tons of steel exports to Mexico. “It makes no sense to impose tariffs on a product in which you have a surplus,” says Ebrard. 

On June 3, 2025, President Trump signed a decree increasing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%. These materials are considered strategic for the US economy. Canada remains the primary steel supplier to the United States, followed by Brazil and Mexico. The steel and aluminum products imported from these countries support key industries such as automotive manufacturing and construction.

Mexico has so far avoided retaliatory tariffs that the Trump administration imposed on multiple countries, but it continues to face tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other materials critical to the automotive sector. The Mexican government highlights that nearly 90% of its trade with the United States is tariff-free due to the USMCA. This trade agreement is scheduled for a review between September and October 2025.

At the end of May, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that her administration was actively negotiating with the US government regarding the tariffs. The Mexican government aims to seek a resolution that avoids long-term damage to trade and manufacturing industries reliant on cross-border steel and aluminum supplies.