Mexico Steel Exports Plummet 50 Percent Under US 50 Percent Tariffs Amid USMCA Review

Welcome to Mexico Tariff News and Tracker, listeners. U.S. tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum, at 50%, continue to batter Mexico's economy even after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's broader import tariffs in February. CGTN America reports these levies have slashed steel exports to the U.S. by nearly 50%, cut national production by a third, and forced factory shutdowns, rippling through construction, automotive, electronics, machinery, and food packaging sectors—totaling about 2% of Mexico's GDP. The U.S. Trade Representative's 2026 National Trade Estimate, released this week, underscores Trump's push to reverse unfair trade practices through targeted tariffs and deals, highlighting progress under reciprocal agreements. Yet uncertainty looms: Akin Gump notes ongoing Section 232 reviews could tweak steel and aluminum duties, while the USMCA review adds volatility for cross-border trade. White House adviser Peter Navarro, speaking at a Politico summit, insists new Section 301 probes into over 80 countries have no fixed outcomes—it's all negotiation, with bespoke deals lowering rates in exchange for concessions. He confirmed plans to hike the baseline Section 122 tariff by an extra 5% after its temporary 10% replacement for the invalidated IEEPA measures expires. Mexico faces dual pressures: domestically absorbing these hits without full recovery in sight, and imposing its own up to 35% tariffs on over $30 billion in Chinese goods, sparking talks to ease tensions, per Mexico Business News. Unconfirmed rumors swirl of Trump eyeing metal tariff rollbacks due to U.S. market damage too. As the USMCA hangs in balance amid U.S.-Mexico talks—Canada says it's not fazed—these moves signal a high-stakes tariff chess game reshaping North American supply chains. Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for weekly updates on the latest twists. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/ Avoid ths tariff fee's and check out these deals https://amzn.to/4iaM94Q This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.