The seven investigations into tariffs in the United States are maintaining uncertainty in the sectors involved.

Currently, the Trump administration is conducting investigations into the possible application of tariffs on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, heavy trucks, aircraft, drones, and polysilicon (used in the manufacture of solar panels and electronic microchips).

Investigations into tariffs in the United States

“If, when you sit down to discuss the future of the USMCA, you still have these tariffs and the threat of future tariffs hanging over you, because the United States is investigating seven sectors for national security reasons with a view to imposing additional tariffs, we are going to have a complicated review of the USMCA,” warned Kenneth Smith, international trade specialist and partner at AGON, in an interview with N+Foro.

Smith, who was Mexico’s chief technical negotiator for the USMCA, considered it positive that Sheinbaum extended the negotiations for another 90 days to avoid imposing a 30% tariff on US imports of Mexican products that do not comply with the USMCA and to seek an agreement on tariffs.

WTO

Since the start of his second presidential term on January 20, 2025, Trump has increased tariffs on US imports from all of its global partners. To implement these tariffs, the President has cited the authorities of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

Smith considered that the 50% tariff on steel and aluminum violates the rules of the USMCA and argued that this is not permitted unless a specific anti-dumping investigation is carried out, in accordance with criteria established by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the USMCA itself. He also added that the USMCA is violated by the 25% tariff on light vehicle imports.

“There is an impact because we do not know, from the outset, how long this partial respect for the USMCA will last; that is, those products that are not paying today are subject to President Trump’s discretion. Tomorrow he changes his mind, imposes a 100% tariff on the agricultural sector, and we have a very strong impact,” he emphasized.