Business · Trade · 4 hrs ago
Ebrard says Lutnick supports reducing US tariffs on Mexican goods
Mexico’s economy minister Marcelo Ebrard says US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick supports lowering tariffs on Mexican goods.
Ebrard said their recent conversations gave him no reason to think Lutnick opposed the cuts, countering a Wall Street Journal report based on anonymous sources.
That report said talks had lost momentum over Lutnick’s opposition, though the two countries had been close to an understanding.
US tariffs include 25% on many steel, aluminum and copper imports, and 25% on Mexican cars and auto parts under Section 232.
Mexico wants the car tariff reduced from 25% to 15%, Ebrard said, while noting that Japan agreed to invest $500 billion in the United States for a similar arrangement.
Ebrard says an existing carve-out exempts about 82% to 85% of Mexican exports from US tariffs.
He said he had not been told Lutnick opposed further reductions, but no next step in the negotiations was specified.
Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick supports reducing US tariffs on Mexican goods.
Ebrard said he had not heard Lutnick oppose reducing tariffs and described their communication as frequent.
His comments contradicted a Wall Street Journal report, based on anonymous sources, that Lutnick’s opposition had slowed negotiations.
Ebrard said Mexico wants the US tariff on automobiles reduced from 25% to 15%.
He said 85% or 82% of Mexican exports to the United States currently enter without tariffs.
- Who
- Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
- What
- Ebrard said Lutnick supports reducing US tariffs on Mexican goods.
- When
- Friday, October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Ebrard spoke after appearing before committees at Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies.
- Why
- Ebrard said he had not heard Lutnick oppose tariff reductions and cited their communication. The sources do not state Lutnick’s own reasons.
Marcelo Ebrard
The Wall Street Journal report
Lutnick’s position
Marcelo Ebrard
Ebrard said Lutnick had not told him he opposed reducing tariffs and supported benefits for Mexico.
The Wall Street Journal report
The report, citing anonymous sources, said Lutnick’s opposition had slowed negotiations.
Negotiations
Marcelo Ebrard
Ebrard said he had not seen an anti-Mexico attitude from Lutnick and that communication was frequent.
The Wall Street Journal report
The report said negotiations over steel, aluminum and Mexican automobiles had lost momentum despite the parties being close to an understanding.
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources, that Lutnick’s opposition had slowed US-Mexico tariff negotiations.
Ebrard said Lutnick supported reducing US tariffs on Mexican goods after appearing before committees at the Chamber of Deputies.
- Proposed auto tariff
- Ebrard said Mexico wants the rate reduced from 25% to 15%.
- Current tariff-free exports
- Ebrard said 85% or 82% of Mexican exports to the United States enter without tariffs.
- Steel, aluminum and copper tariffs
- 25% to 50%, with limited exemptions under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
- Automobile and parts tariff
- 25% under Section 232; buses face a 10% tariff.
What people are saying
I did not notice that he was against reducing those tariffs, at least as far as I know.
In all the other meetings with Lutnick, by Zoom or by phone, he has never told me that he opposes reducing Section 232.
I have never heard the secretary Lutnick tell me, nor do I think he maintains, that he is against Mexico having some benefit.