USTR Statement on Successful Conclusion of Steel Negotiations with Mexico

11/05/2020

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United States Trade Representative

Washington, DC – Mexico and the United States have successfully concluded consultations held pursuant to their Joint Statement of May 17, 2019 to address the transshipment of grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) from outside the North American region into the United States through GOES-containing downstream products.  Pursuant to the Joint Statement, Mexico will establish a strict monitoring regime for exports of electrical transformer laminations and cores made of non-North American GOES.  From the fourth quarter of 2020 onward, Mexico will closely monitor shipments of these products to the United States.  In light of these measures, imports from Mexico will not be subject to any action to adjust imports of electrical transformers and related parts that may be adopted by the United States under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended.  The United Stated and Mexico will consult at regular intervals on the implementation of these agreed measures and on the state of bilateral trade and market conditions relating to these products.  

The United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, praised his counterpart, Secretary of Economy Graciela Márquez Colín, for Mexico’s continued cooperation and constructive engagement on issues covered by the May 2019 Joint Statement: “The resilience of North America’s energy infrastructure is significantly enhanced by having electrical steel production capability within our region.  An influx of low-price steel from third countries imperils this capability.  I thank Secretary Márquez and her staff for their continued engagement and close coordination as we worked to find cooperative solutions to a common regional challenge.

To read the original press release, click here.