Mexico Faces Minimal Impact from New US Trump Tariffs

The United States introduced a new tariff regime under Section 301, replacing the temporary Section 122 duties that had applied a 10 percent surcharge. The new measures target 60 economies over alleged forced‑labor issues in supply chains. An analysis by Global Trade Alert found that the average U.S. tariff rose only marginally from 11.0 % to 11.2 %, but Mexico emerged as one of the least‑affected countries because products that meet the rules of origin of the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement (T‑MEC) remain exempt. As a result, Mexico retains the lowest effective tariff rate among major U.S. suppliers.

During July 21‑23, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer concluded the third round of T‑MEC reviews in Mexico City, describing the talks as “constructive.” They agreed to hold a fourth round in early September to continue joint assessment of the treaty, aiming to strengthen North‑American economic security and supply‑chain integration while the U.S. seeks to reduce dependence on Asian producers. The report notes that while Mexico and Canada kept their trade advantages, countries such as China (average tariff 27.2 %) and Brazil (17.7 %) faced far higher new duties.