Mexico City – Mexico is negotiating with the United States to prevent a 25% tariff on its steel and aluminum exports, which is set to take effect on Wednesday, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced Friday.

Speaking at a press briefing at the National Palace, Ebrard argued that the proposed tariffs are unjustified, as Mexico imports more U.S. steel and aluminum than it exports. Mexican officials have pointed out that the U.S. had a trade surplus of $6.9 billion in steel and aluminum with Mexico in 2024.

The tariffs were introduced through an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on February 10, citing a trade deficit in the sector. However, Mexico has been pushing back against the move, highlighting the imbalance in trade data.

On Thursday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Trump agreed to temporarily delay broader tariffs on Mexican products until April 2. The U.S. has tied the tariff discussions to concerns over irregular migration and fentanyl trafficking.

Ebrard also noted that the suspension applies to Mexican exports that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which covers more than half of bilateral trade. Negotiations are ongoing to reach a resolution before the new tariffs take effect.