The duty For steel and aluminum that Mexico and Canada export to the United States, they will not be equal to those established for the rest of the world. They will be greater.
Instead of 25 % announced this week by Donald Trump For its global application without “exceptions or exemptions”, those of Mexico and Canada will be doubled: 50 %.
The reason? These tariffs will be added other rates already announced on Canadian and Mexican goods, As reported to EFE A White House official.
In this way, the two neighboring nations will face higher rates than the other export countries of aluminum and steel to the United States, the source confirmed.
These levies will come into force on March 12, according to the text of the executive orders signed by Trump in this regard, the Spanish Agency refers.
Tariffs for Mexico and Canada
“The reason why Mexico and Canada will have to pay 50 % in exports is that the 25 % tariff to aluminum and steel will be added to another 25 % rate on Mexican and Canadian goods that will enter into force on March 4 ”, He explains EFE.
From before his return to the White House, Trump had made clear his intention to impose taxes on his adjacent countries. After announcing these 25 % tariffs at the beginning of February, he postponed that measure until March 4, after negotiations with the leaders of Mexico and Canada to reinforce border control and stop the traffic of fentanyl and the arrival of migrants.
However, time has continued running and, unless there is another postponement or a change of opinion of the Republican, in couple of weeks these tariffs will begin to be applied to all Mexican and Canadian goods, which would raise up to 50 % of the steel and aluminum.
The measure would be a blow to the economies of both countries, but would also have logical repercussions in the United States. Canada is the main origin of steel and aluminum imported by the United States, and Mexico is the second steel exporter, ahead of South Korea, Brazil and Vietnam.
The US tariffs to Mexico are “a bullet in the foot,” says Secretary of Economics
Pretense against reality
With these and other tariffs, the Republican president has said that it seeks to boost the United States manufacturing industry, which has suffered a fall in recent years due to the arrival of cheaper materials to the country.
However, according to analysts this claim collides with reality. The problem is the interconnection of US industries with their suppliers, especially with Mexico and Canada. For this reason, tariffs could mean an increase in prices and affect the production and distribution chain.
This same week, the CEO of two of the main car companies in the United States, Ford and General Motors, acknowledged that tariffs, and in particular those established to Mexico and Canada, would largely interrupt their operations, as well as their profitability, reports CNN.
Although they said they were preparing for their implementation and being able to mitigate a part of their effects, they pointed out that their long -term maintenance would be a “serious blow” for the US automotive industry.
“So far what we are seeing is a lot of cost and a lot of chaos. Let’s be honest, in the long term, a 25% tariff across the borders of Mexico and Canada would open a hole in the American industry that we have never seen, ”said Ford CEO, Jim Farley.
A study released this Wednesday and aforementioned By press media, he points out that these tariffs will increase the average price of vehicles in the United States by $ 5790. This is an increase of 12 % of the average price compared to 2024.
25 % tariffs that US President Donald Trump has announced against Mexico and Canada will increase the average price of vehicles in the US by $ 5,790.https://t.co/cnqn3tiidi
– Efe News (@Efenoticias) February 13, 2025
Trump, who has defended the imposition of tariffs by cape and sword, has also used them as a negotiation tool with other countries. At the moment, it already imposed an additional tariff of 10 % to China, which adds to those already in force since its first term, which led Beijing to announce more levies in response.
In addition, it has confirmed its intention to impose reciprocal tariffs on several countries to equate those applying to US exports, a measure that could especially affect the European Union, which has already said that it would respond to this measure.
