Mexico, US to start free trade ties review talks on March 16
Mexico and the US said they will start talks on March 16 ahead of a review of the free trade agreement that has shaped both economies and kept some of their commerce steady despite US President Donald Trump’s constantly changing tariff policy.
The bilateral trade talks are ahead of a scheduled review later this year of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, the latest version of free trade agreements among the US, Mexico and Canada, dating back to the early 1990s, that have intertwined the economies of the three North American countries. The USMCA has allowed Mexico to avoid much of Trump’s protectionist measures because many Mexican goods are covered by the free trade agreement.
However, a number of products are not covered, including medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which face a 25 per cent tariff. A 50 per cent tariff on steel, aluminium and copper remains in effect, as does a 17 per cent tariff on Mexican tomatoes.
Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said on X that the first round of upcoming bilateral talks was arranged with the US.
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and that they would address issues related to rules of origin, increasing production, supply chain security and integrating economies to boost competitiveness against other regions.
