Secretary of Economy, Graciela Márquez, announced that Mexico is preparing a list of US products to apply tariffs in retaliation for steel taxes fixed in 2018.
“The Mexican government is finalizing the new list of US products that will be subject to tariffs in retaliation for the Mexican steel and aluminum taxes imposed by the Donald Trump administration since 2018”, Economy Secretary Graciela Márquez declared on Tuesday May 14th.
“We are in the process of preparing a new tariff,” said Marquez Colin, in a joint conference with the Canadian Minister of Commerce, Christya Freeland, and Jesus Seade, Undersecretary for North America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), in Canada .
“We still can not reveal the new components, but we can indicate that they will include economic and political considerations. It is a process that, first, would go to the Ministry of Economy and then to the Ministry of the Interior (Segob); and it will take at least two or three weeks to be completed, ” Márquez added without specifying details.
The steel and aluminum tariffs of US trade partners – Mexico, Canada and the European Union – began on June 1 of last year on the grounds of national security as imposed by the Donald Trump’s government.
Mexico and Canada have been in contact about section 232 in the United States. “We have made it clear that these tariffs should be eliminated. We support each other, it is not a simple matter, but we have to follow this path and we hope to reach an agreement soon. I feel optimistic, “said Jesús Seade.
“Canada has always denied the justification of national security for the imposition of this tariff,” stressed the Canadian minister. “It is time to eliminate it, it is important for the competitiveness of the entire continent and to advance in free trade,” he added.
Freeland announced on Tuesday May 14th, that she will meet with the US trade representative, Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday May 15th.
“Canada’s position remains the same as in the beginning: we believe in free trade with our partners in North America and, therefore, we believe that, today more than ever, it is important to restore free trade between Canada Mexico and the United States, ” she said.
T-MEC
In Canada, the ratification process of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) has advanced. The approval of the local Congress is expected before the federal elections in October, the Economy Ministry estimated in a statement.
Minister Freeland highlighted that there was a “very valuable” debate on the labor reform that was recently approved in Mexico.
“We talked about how we can help the full implementation of this law, as part of our commitment to improve labor standards for workers in Canada, Mexico and the United States,” said the Canadian official.
“Canada has recognized that we are an important partner in the hemisphere, and for us it is important to consolidate the role of Mexico and North America in the world economy,” Graciela Márquez stated during her participation.
Among other issues, there was also talk of the relationship that exists with small and medium enterprises, indigenous communities, the bilateral relationship, as well as the labor reform approved in Mexico on May 1st.
“This law will guarantee not only labor democracy, but also transparency in labor justice,” said the Economy Secretary Graciela Márquez. “It is a commitment of our Government,” she concluded.
San Miguel Times Newsroom
