The Secretary of Economy of Mexico, Marcelo Ebrard, stated that if the U.S. government decides to impose tariffs on Mexican imports, Mexico will respond with non-tariff measures on April 2. Ebrard noted that the goal is to avoid "exaggerating" the economic impact and explained that various measures are being evaluated to reduce consequences rather than increase them.
In the context of the presentation of the 'Made in Mexico' program, the Secretary of Economy emphasized the federal government's collaboration with affected industries to coordinate actions that minimize the impact of possible tariffs. Ebrard stressed that commercial integration between Mexico and the United States, especially in sectors like automotive, means that any tariff measure will have a multiplied effect, as some parts can cross the border multiple times during the production process.
Ebrard revealed that he travels weekly to Washington to dialogue with authorities and sector representatives. The automotive and auto parts sector, which is highly relevant in Mexican exports, has been prioritized in the Economy Secretary's meetings. In this regard, Ebrard underscored the importance of close collaboration with the steel sector, which recently accompanied him on a trip to Washington.
Despite the OECD estimating a possible economic contraction for Mexico in the event of a 25% tariff being applied, Ebrard considered it "unlikely" that this scenario will materialize. He highlighted that the majority of Mexican companies comply with the regulations established in the USMCA and stated that there have been no significant reported impacts on Mexican industries due to the tariffs so far.
In conclusion, Marcelo Ebrard ruled out that, to date, Mexican industries have suffered significant consequences from the proposed tariffs, as most comply with USMCA regulations, which could protect them from possible sanctions.
