The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a limited tariff exemption for steel and aluminum from Mexico and Canada exported to the U.S. medium and heavy vehicle automotive sector, excluding light vehicles, the Ministry of Economy (SE) reported .
The benefit refers to the reduction of the current tariff level of 50% applied to steel and aluminum, to reach up to 25% at most , depending on production commitments in the United States for qualifying shipments.
“This procedure was pending, and access to these benefits was not possible, which has been repeatedly emphasized in meetings with the United States Department of Commerce,” the SE said in a statement.
The reductions will be subject to the following requirements:
- Comply with the rules of origin of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) .
- Process the melt and pour in the region.
- Being a direct or indirect supplier to the heavy automotive industry in the United States.
- Having a plan with new production commitments in the United States.
The notice from the U.S. government, published yesterday in the Federal Register, implements a provision of the October 2025 proclamation by the northern neighbor’s president, Donald Trump, on tariffs for medium and heavy trucks issued under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which created a pathway for metals used in those supply chains.
In that regard, companies seeking reductions will need to provide details of their production commitments in the United States, including planned locations and expected capacity.
The policy could impact major automakers with a strong presence in North America, such as General Motors , Ford Motor Company and Stellantis , as well as their supplier network, which depends on integrated flows of steel and aluminum in the region.
The announcement comes after the visit of Jamieson Greer, United States Trade Representative (USTR) , to Mexico, as part of the second round of review of USMCA trade issues with Marcelo Ebrard, head of the Mexican Ministry of Economy. The agenda for April 20 included a meeting between Mexican and US officials and representatives of the automotive industry, who discussed Section 232 (steel, aluminum, automobiles and auto parts) with Greer, although it was not specified whether they reached any agreement.
The heavy vehicle industry is one of the key sectors of the USMCA. In the period from January to March 2026, 23,550 units were exported , representing a 30.3% decrease compared to the same period in 2025. The United States was the main destination for exports, accounting for 92% of the total, or 21,661 vehicles , according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) .
The United States continues to position itself as the main buyer of heavy vehicles manufactured in Mexico, although Trump has expressed his disagreement on several occasions.
Despite this, the sector continues to be affected by the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the review of the USMCA , which does not send very positive signals for Mexico, since it is unlikely that the United States will completely eliminate the tariffs it maintains on the automotive industry, as well as on steel and aluminum, as Ebrard pointed out in his assessment of Greer’s visit to Mexican territory.
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