President Sheinbaum Insists US Eliminate Tariffs on Cars, Steel & Aluminum

This article by Alma E. Muñoz and Emir Olivares originally appeared in the March 24, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo reiterated her call for the United States to eliminate or reduce tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum. She also stated that, like her administration, the U.S. government is advocating for stronger rules of origin.

“The United States has publicly stated its intention to strengthen rules of origin, as we have mentioned here, which means that if you are going to produce an auto part, most of your components must also be manufactured in Mexico, the United States, or Canada.”

President Sheinbaum said that lowering or eliminating tariffs “is part of the discussion that is happening right now… and there is progress, but we still don’t see it reflected in the facts.”

They still haven’t accepted?

“Yes, they accept it, but it’s not yet reflected in reality, even though it’s already a fact.”

In the document?

“Yes. There’s a provision in the declarations made by the United States that the component manufactured in the United States is deductible. Here, the automakers told us that they were having difficulty obtaining that deduction in the United States. And Secretary (Marcelo) Ebrard has requested this there, and in that respect, for example, there has been more progress.”