Ebrard warns Trump election defeat does not guarantee lower tariffs for Mexico, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City): Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón said Wednesday that the Republican defeat in the U.S. midterm elections will not necessarily bring relief to Mexico on tariffs.
A day after Democrats won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, he said the new political balance does not automatically change the U.S. president’s authority to impose or maintain tariffs on imports.
Ebrard said it was too early to predict the consequences of the new congressional makeup, particularly because some vote counts were still in progress. He made clear, however, that losing Republican legislative majorities does not mean Trump must abandon his protectionist policy, one of the main points of conflict in the bilateral economic relationship.
Ebrard said Mexico has taken part in three rounds of talks on the review of the Mexico, United States and Canada Agreement (USMCA) and is waiting for a fourth. He said U.S.
authorities asked that the election be allowed to pass before the meetings continue. The Mexican government’s goal is to conclude the 2026 review, although no date has been confirmed for formally resuming talks.
The secretary said the agreement’s validity is not in doubt, but acknowledged that changes or additions could be discussed during the review. “Most of the tariff relationship does not change much.
The treaty may change, but it is too early to say that,” he said.
Among the outstanding issues are U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum and the automotive sector, which have strained relations between the two governments.
Ebrard had earlier warned that an immediate reduction in these duties would be difficult, since they represent an important source of revenue for the United States. On October 27, he said Mexican authorities had submitted proposals to reduce the tariff burdens, though he acknowledged disagreements with Washington on some points.
Ebrard said that approximately 80 percent of Mexican exports to the United States enter without paying tariffs. He attributed this to negotiations between the governments of Claudia Sheinbaum and Donald Trump and to the close integration of production chains between the two countries.
He cited tariffs on vehicles made in Mexico, which also affect U.S. companies with manufacturing operations in Mexico, including General Motors and Stellantis.
Analysts consulted by El Financiero cited in the report said the legislative shift does not guarantee a more favorable relationship for Mexico. Consultancy Integralia said USMCA negotiations will continue regardless of the new congressional makeup, and UBS said the U.S.
executive branch retains significant authority over tariffs and foreign policy even as it faces greater obstacles in passing new laws.
The Mexican government’s immediate priority, according to the report, is to reactivate USMCA talks and seek agreements to reduce tariffs affecting strategic sectors of the Mexican economy. For now, Ebrard’s warning suggests the electoral setback for Trump will not automatically translate into better trade terms for Mexico.
