Ebrard expects US to cut tariffs on cars and steel within weeks
Mexico's economy secretary told lawmakers that talks with Washington are daily and called himself "reasonably optimistic," with no date or rate agreed.
Mexico's economy secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, appeared before the Chamber of Deputies on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, and said he expects Washington to lower its tariffs on vehicles and steel "in the coming weeks or months," according to Expansión, a Mexican business outlet. By that account, he did not describe a deal as closed or give a target rate for steel.
Milenio, a Mexican daily, reports that he rejected the idea that talks have stalled and said he speaks with Washington every day. He also answered a Wall Street Journal report that attributed to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick opposition to lowering those tariffs. According to Ebrard, Lutnick never raised any such objection with him. He called himself "reasonably optimistic," but said the outcome depends on President Donald Trump.
Mexico's proposal for cars is to cut the US tariff from 25% to 15%, which Ebrard says is what the United States applies to vehicles from South Korea, and to keep discounts for regional content. Steel and aluminum pay 50% today, according to Expansión, which ties the figure to the Wall Street Journal report.
| Product | Current tariff | Mexico's proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 25% | 15% |
| Steel and aluminum | 50% | No rate proposed |
Ebrard said that between 80% and 85% of Mexican exports to the United States enter tariff-free, and that the average effective tariff is 3% to 3.2%. The range differs between the two outlets: Milenio gives 82% to 85%. These are his own statements, not figures checked against official documents.
He attributed the lack of a new formal round of talks to logistics. The annual reviews of the USMCA, the North American trade pact known in Mexico as the T-MEC, began in July 2026, and according to Expansión Mexico and Canada did not win the 16-year extension they sought. A fourth round with Washington, still without a date, is due before the end of 2026.
For the secretary, the model followed by Seoul and Tokyo, which offered the United States investments worth $500 billion, does not apply to Mexico: the country will not make an outlay of that size, according to Milenio. Washington has not responded to the 15% proposal in the sources consulted.
