Roberto Vega Solís, president of COPARMEX Tijuana, said that this unilateral decision seriously affects the competitiveness of North America and contradicts the principles of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC). In addition, it puts regional integration at risk in strategic sectors such as the automotive sector, generating uncertainty for thousands of jobs and future investments in the country, he said. The figures show that there is no justification for this protectionist measure. In 2024, the steel trade balance between Mexico and the United States showed a surplus of 2.3 million tons in favor of the US economy.
The US government has justified this decision under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, arguing reasons of internal security. However, these restrictions generate distortions in trade and affect its own strategic partners, weakening the trilateral integration established in the T-MEC. COPARMEX Tijuana supports the efforts of the Mexican government to achieve the exclusion of our country from these tariffs. It is essential that dialogue prevails and solutions are found that respect existing trade agreements. If this measure is not reversed, the Mexican government is urged to implement trade defense actions to protect the national steel industry. We demand the use of the dispute resolution mechanisms provided for in the USMCA to ensure that this decision does not harm the country's economy.