{
  "id": 4624060,
  "title": "Handelspolitik: Droht ein „Zombie“-Abkommen? Wie Mexiko Trump besänftigen will",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/handelspolitik-droht-ein-zombie-abkommen-wie-mexiko-trump-besanftigen",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-31T10:09:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/handelspolitik-droht-ein-zombie-abkommen-wie-mexiko-trump-besaenftigen-will/100250323.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "While the United States and Canada are clashing over tariffs, Mexico finds itself in a state of relative calm. However, fears are growing that the ongoing dispute between Ottawa and Washington could disrupt negotiations for the continuation of the USMCA trade agreement among the three nations. The US had imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on Canada, with corresponding Canadian retaliatory tariffs set to take effect on September 8. So far, Mexico's government in Mexico City has avoided a confrontational approach in talks with the US, with President Claudia Sheinbaum striving for a collegial and friendly relationship with their US counterpart, Donald Trump. Following the escalation between Canada and the US, Sheinbaum preemptively sent her Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard to Washington to ensure that the fourth round of USMCA talks between the two countries proceeds as scheduled in September and that a new agreement on tariffs can be reached. Most importantly for Mexico, the US must reduce tariffs on steel and aluminum (50 percent) and vehicles and auto parts (25 percent), which Trump imposed under the 1962 \"Trade Expansion Act.\" Article 232 of this federal law empowers the US President to restrict imports from abroad if they threaten or impair national security. Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico has been working for over a year to lower US tariffs. Canada also aimed to reduce tariffs before the recent incident occurred. In June, the Trump administration had also engaged in talks with Mexico about the future of the USMCA agreement. Both sides have more than a dozen points they want to modify in the trade pact. A decision whether to extend the agreement for another 16 years was due by July 1. However, on July 1, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced abruptly that Washington would not renew the accord, though it remains in place and will now be reviewed annually. This decision may be used by Washington to exert political pressure on Mexico and Canada on issues such as drug trafficking and energy policy. If the parties do not agree on a 16-year extension by 2036, the USMCA agreement ends permanently, causing significant concern for Mexico as the accord essentially makes it vulnerable to annual revision. This is a very bad news for the country, as the economy of the emerging market hinges on exports to the US. Over 80 percent of Mexican exports go to the neighboring country. Since the USMCA agreement came into force in 2020, replacing its predecessor NAFTA, Mexico's importance as a trade partner for the United States has grown. Bilateral merchandise trade between the countries reached a record $871.6 billion in 2025, surpassing Canada ($715.5 billion) and China ($414.6 billion). German companies in Mexico are also closely monitoring the situation in the north. Indeed, the conflict between two of the three USMCA partners adds to the uncertainty, says Björn Lisker, spokesperson for the Foreign Chamber of Commerce (AHK) in Mexico. \"Some of our member companies are expressing a complex situation and are still assessing the possible impact on their business.\" However, no serious harm has been reported yet, Lisker notes. Over 2000 companies with German capital are present in Mexico, alongside DAX companies and many specialized mid-sized firms. All of them share the fact that the US remains their most important market. Mexico's negotiators and Economy Minister Ebrard and his team negotiate point by point with the US, make targeted concessions, avoid retaliatory measures, and prioritize maintaining market access. \"German companies view the government's strategy of engaging in dialogue positively,\" Lisker adds. After all, 85 percent of Mexican products are still duty-free. So far, the results support Mexico's approach, according to the business newspaper \"El Financiero.\" The question remains, however, whether \"our approach avoids the demands that led to the breakdown of talks with Canada or merely delays them.\" Every negotiation with Washington entails a high political risk. Even analysts at Bradesco Bank point out that Mexico has consistently and reliably negotiated with the US, but they accept the blurring of boundaries between trade issues and the fulfillment of US demands in other areas. \"Mexico has earned a good reputation in this delicate negotiation phase by addressing issues such as security, immigration, drug trafficking, and the prosecution of politicians with suspected links to criminal organizations,\" write the experts. However, the think tank Eurasia Group predicts, due to the trade conflict between the US and Canada, a \"Zombie USMCA\" scenario, meaning the agreement will continue but be extended through additional bilateral protocols that include higher tariffs than before.",
  "summary": "Nach der Eskalation des Zollstreits zwischen den USA und Kanada sieht auch Mexiko die Handelsgespräche mit Washington in Gefahr. Dabei ist das Land bedeutender für die USA als Kanada.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}