Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that Mexico wants to cut a side deal on steel, aluminum, and automobiles before the USMCA review even finishes its opening act.
For a country that ships more vehicles north than a winter migration of snowbirds, this isn’t just paperwork—it’s economic choreography. Getting these three heavy hitters settled early could spare Mexican factories the suspense of waiting for Washington’s next plot twist.
Sheinbaum dropped the news during her morning press conference, just as U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer touched down for talks. Timing, as they say in diplomacy, is everything—except when it’s breakfast.
Mexico exports more cars and auto parts to the U.S. than most people can name in a trivia night. Keeping those lanes open matters more than finding a parking spot in downtown Mexico City.
The USMCA review looms large, but Mexico has mostly dodged tariff turbulence thanks to the pact’s protective umbrella. Now they’re hoping to lock in the big three—steel, aluminum, autos—before the fine print gets complicated.
Washington, meanwhile, is eyeing rules of origin like a hawk watching a particularly clever squirrel. The goal: stop goods, especially from China, from using Mexico as a scenic detour into the U.S. market.
Sheinbaum’s pitch is practical: why wait for the whole movie when you can preview the best scenes? Greer’s response remains unwritten, but trade talks, like telenovelas, thrive on suspense.
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