Mexico City, June 2: Mexico’s Economy Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, announced that the country will pressure the United States to eliminate existing tariffs during the review process of the trilateral North American Free Trade Agreement.
According to a report by the Xinhua news agency, Ebrard shared insights at an event following the first round of formal discussions regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). He noted that the U.S. delegation presented several proposals.
Ebrard stated, “Various proposals have come from the U.S., including product content, rules of origin, regulations related to third countries, and other issues.” He also mentioned topics such as steel, aluminum, the automobile industry, and economic security.
He indicated that under President Donald Trump, the U.S. is making a significant shift in global trade policy, which includes the USMCA. According to him, the U.S. is now adopting a system that imposes different tariffs on goods from various countries. Mexican officials argue that this approach diverges significantly from the international trade system that has been in place for decades, particularly affecting partner nations like Mexico and Canada.
Ebrard remarked, “The U.S. is currently establishing a system where different tariffs will apply to different countries. This is quite complex to understand.”
He emphasized that Mexico aims to minimize tariffs as much as possible, with the ideal scenario being a complete return to free trade. The Ministry of Economy plans to present several proposals in the upcoming meetings that align with the best interests of the country’s industries.
Mexican and U.S. officials confirmed that the second round of discussions regarding the USMCA review will take place in Washington, D.C., on June 16-17. This round will address agricultural issues and fair competition terms, along with further discussions on rules of origin.
The third round is scheduled for the third week of July in Mexico City, focusing on resolving remaining issues. A joint review among the three countries is expected by the end of the year, as stipulated in the agreement.
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