Patricia Tapia @ptcervantes. The Mexican government confirmed that exports that comply with the USMCA will be exempt from the 10% tariff suggested by the United States.
The threat of a new US tariff related to combating forced labor would have a much smaller impact on Mexico than initially thought.
The Ministry of Economy announced Tuesday that, following consultations with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), it was confirmed that goods complying with the USMCA rules of origin will be exempt from the proposed tariffs the United States is considering for 60 economies.
This clarification is important because approximately 85% of the volume of Mexican exports to the United States already comply with the USMCA provisions, and therefore would remain outside the scope of the measure.
The USTR reported an investigation conducted under Section 301, which alleges a lack of effective enforcement of measures to prevent the entry of goods produced with forced labor in third countries.
Mexico is among the economies under scrutiny, along with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada. As a result of the investigation, the US trade authority proposed a 10% tariff on imports from Mexico and 13 other economies. For a second group of 46 countries, the proposal includes an additional tariff of 12.5%.
However, the initiative has not yet taken effect, as the United States has opened a consultation period.
The Exports at Risk
According to the Ministry of Economy, the potential impact would be concentrated on the 15% of Mexican exports that do not operate under the USMCA rules of origin.
Furthermore, the ministry clarified that the proposal would also not affect products subject to Section 232 measures, including automobiles, steel, and aluminum—sectors that already operate under specific trade agreements established by the United States.
The Ministry of Economy announced that it will hold formal talks with the USTR in the coming weeks to defend Mexico's position. The discussions will include a formal round within the USMCA review process, led by Secretary Marcelo Ebrard on behalf of Mexico.
The Mexican government will seek to demonstrate the actions and commitments it has taken to combat forced labor and prevent the proposed tariff from being applied to the percentage of exports that are currently excluded from the treaty's coverage.
"Mexico is confident that the proposed tariff, which affects 15% of its trade, will be modified based on the results of the bilateral discussions that Mexico and the United States will continue to hold in the coming weeks."
https://expansion.mx/economia/2026/06/03/arancel-trabajo-forzoso-afectaria-15-exportaciones-mexicanas
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