MEXICO CITY, June 4 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard has criticised the decision of the United States to increase tariffs on the import of steel to 50 per cent, saying that such a measure was "unsustainable", reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump officially proclaimed the decision to double the trade tariffs on steel and aluminium to 50 per cent starting from June 4.
"It's unfair, unsustainable, and we will present our arguments on Friday for Mexico to be excluded from this measure because it makes no sense," Ebrard told reporters on Tuesday.
The economy minister expressed doubt that the tariffs could be sustained over time, saying that this would harm the industries of both Mexico and the US, since steel is used primarily for the automotive industry, construction and electronics.
"I see it as unfair to Mexico, because the United States has a surplus with Mexico," Ebrard said. "It doesn't make sense to put a tariff on a product you have a surplus in. Normally, it's imposed when you have a deficit, not a surplus," the minister elaborated.
At the end of March, Ebrard said that the 25 per cent tariff on the auto sector announced by Trump would not apply to cars from Mexico.
--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI
