Mexico seeks' preferential treatment 'as Trump's auto tariffs ripple around the world

As U.S. President Donald Trump pushes ahead with tariffs around the world, Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said his country could at least secure lower tariffs on its exports to the United States than other countries.

"If the tariffs reach such a high level, what we have to do is to seek preferential treatment for Mexico," Marcelo Ebrard said via video call Thursday at the daily news conference of Mexican President Oenbaum.

As Trump steps up his tariff plan, Ms. Shinbaum is under more pressure to prove that she can protect Mexico's economy and jobs. Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on auto imports starting April 3, but Mexican exports containing U.S. components could enjoy a lower rate.

Ebrard was quoted by Bloomberg as saying he had been "treated well" in almost weekly trade talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Alexander Lutnick. He explained to U.S. officials the importance of Mexico's auto and parts industry to the United States, where Mexico exports nearly 3 million vehicles a year and buys 40 percent of its auto parts.

Ebrard added that because the North American auto industry is highly integrated, most vehicles exported from Mexico to the United States contain a high percentage of U.S.-made parts. In his announcement Wednesday, Trump said the auto tariffs would only apply to non-U.S. vehicles and parts imported under the U.S.-Canada-Mexico free trade Agreement.

"In other words, these vehicles that we export will not be subject to a 25 percent tariff," Ebrard said. What we are fighting for is to make products that are made in Mexico at a better price than any other country can export to the United States."

Hinbaum made clear at the press conference that the Mexican government would not rush to respond to Trump's auto tariffs, but would wait for the tariffs he announced on April 2 to respond the next day. She said her first priority was to protect Mexican jobs.

"We will give Mexico's full response to this situation on April 3, but it does not mean that the door to cooperation with the United States will be closed on April 3," he said. The door is open for dialogue with the U.S. government."