Mexico’s economy secretariat, SE, has extended existing provisional duties of 15 percent over certain steel products for six more months, following intense negotiations with the local steel sector.
SE renewed the 15 percent tariff it had already applied for imports of slab, CRC, HRC, heavy plate and wire rod from other countries, especially from China, for six more months.
The government refused to add other products, such as profiles, beams, and rebar to the existing regulation. Canacero, the local steel association, has been arguing that those products should be added to the list as well, since they’re also impacted by the “unfair trade” from Asian countries.
Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexico’s economy minister, said extending the duties to other products should be a “final resolution, which will be made when it’s time [to do so].”
The extending of the 15 percent provisional tariff is valid not only for Chinese steel exporters, but also for imports of steel coming from other countries, which don’t have trade agreements with Mexico.