The US is reportedly seeking a steel exports quota deal with Mexico as an alternative to exclude the country from Section 232 tariffs, a media report by Reuters said this week.
The media report said a Mexican official is currently involved with US representatives, and a quota deal could be reached within “weeks.”
The US imposed a 25 percent import tariffs over steel imports from Mexico and other countries. Mexico responded in June by imposing reciprocal duties of 25 percent over a number of US steel exports to Mexico.
Jesus Seade, the chief NAFTA negotiator for Mexico’s president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said Mexico is leading metals talks with the US.
“I’ve had a few calls with (US Trade Representative Robert) Lighthizer, and (talks) are for managing (export) volumes with Mexico and Canada,” he said, declining to provide further details.
Seade indicated the issue over Mexican steel exports to the US could be solved before president-elect Andres Obrador begins his term on December 1.