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Mexico to Propose Reinstatement of North American Steel Committee
08/20/2025 - Mexico plans to propose the idea of bringing back a committee composed of steel companies from both Mexico and the U.S., and government trade officials from both countries, said Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez Romano, Mexico’s deputy economy minister for trade.
The committee would be like the former North American Steel Trade Committee under NAFTA. Gutiérrez said it would be “tasked with building a stronger regional ecosystem including private sector actors rather than relying solely on government negotiations.”
According to a report by Bloomberg, the committee would consider measures to increase Mexico’s purchase of U.S. steel to replace Asian imports, which could enable it to increase tariffs on Asian steel.
“We are looking at a series of trade practices to strengthen ourselves as a region, to protect ourselves as a region and to work together on a common policy that strengthens our industries,” Gutiérrez said.
The proposed committee intends to include Canada down the line, Bloomberg said.
In addition to the committee, Mexico has closed 1,062 “phantom” Asian steel mills, or buildings registered as mills but don’t contain any actual steel operations and function as cover for foreign imports, Bloomberg reported. The Mexican government is exploring domestic policies to increase local steel consumption.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico regarding tariff policies are ongoing. Gutiérrez said Mexico is prioritizing negotiating a deal to reduce tariffs for autos, steel and aluminum.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the committee would consider measures to increase Mexico’s purchase of U.S. steel to replace Asian imports, which could enable it to increase tariffs on Asian steel.
“We are looking at a series of trade practices to strengthen ourselves as a region, to protect ourselves as a region and to work together on a common policy that strengthens our industries,” Gutiérrez said.
The proposed committee intends to include Canada down the line, Bloomberg said.
In addition to the committee, Mexico has closed 1,062 “phantom” Asian steel mills, or buildings registered as mills but don’t contain any actual steel operations and function as cover for foreign imports, Bloomberg reported. The Mexican government is exploring domestic policies to increase local steel consumption.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico regarding tariff policies are ongoing. Gutiérrez said Mexico is prioritizing negotiating a deal to reduce tariffs for autos, steel and aluminum.
