Overview

• Effective August 18, the White House broadened 50% Section 232 tariffs to 407 classifications of steel‑ and aluminum‑derived goods, covering items from tools to appliance components.
• U.S. Department of Commerce data show sharp first‑half 2025 increases in selected Mexican exports, including a 17‑fold jump in turbines and hydraulic wheels to $3.1 million and a 13% rise in refrigerators and heat pumps.
• Analysts report U.S. companies accelerated purchases from Mexico to build inventories ahead of higher duties, boosting near‑term shipment volumes.
• DOC records indicate fewer than 10% of Mexican refrigerators and other iron and steel goods meet USMCA origin rules, leaving most of these shipments liable for a 25% tariff.
• Agribusiness leaders warn that any 25% duty on farm goods would be hard for producers to absorb, raising concerns about potential extensions of tariffs to agricultural products.