Overview
- The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has proposed additional tariffs under Section 301 on imports from 60 economies with proposed rates of 10% for a subset including Mexico and 12.5% for a larger group.
- After direct consultations, Mexico won a clarification that goods meeting T‑MEC rules of origin — about 85% of its U.S. export volume — would be exempt from the proposed 10% tariff.
- The USTR action is preliminary and opens a roughly 45‑day administrative window with public comments due July 6 and a hearing on July 7 before any final decision is made.
- Mexican officials will use the comment period and formal T‑MEC review rounds in mid‑June and July to submit legal and technical evidence focused on the roughly 15% of exports not covered by T‑MEC rules and at risk of tariffs.
- The move reflects a U.S. strategy to use Section 301 after other tariff tools faced legal or expiry problems and could change how Washington pressures trade partners over forced‑labor enforcement and supply‑chain rules.