Mexico

Even as U.S. industry groups applauded the signing of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on Friday, they made clear their continued frustration that Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports remained.

BUENOS AIRES -- U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is confident the trilateral trade deal inked by the U.S., Mexico and Canada will garner enough support in Congress -- and he is adamant that “a very high number of Democrats” will vote for the implementing legislation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called GM's recent plant closings a “heavy blow,” adding, “and Donald, it's all the more reason why we need to keep working to remove the tariffs on steel and aluminum between our countries.”

BUENOS AIRES – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be signed on Friday without the countries reaching a resolution on Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, sources tell Inside U.S. Trade, though trade ministers worked through the night on the issue.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and a former U.S. Trade Representative, on Wednesday said Mexico might not sign the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement if the Trump administration does not lift its Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Seade will work under Marcelo Ebrard, President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's pick for foreign affairs secretary.

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association says “continued silence on seasonality runs the risk of substantially intensifying the dire industry trend lines set in motion under NAFTA.”

“Our industries want to support this new agreement when it faces Congressional review, but that depends heavily on having an overall package that benefits, rather than harms, our long-term ability to survive in a global economy.”