US and Mexican negotiators are deadlocked over steel and aluminum tariffs, with talks cooling in recent days and a potential agreement now likely to be delayed until after the US midterm elections. The impasse centers on duties applied to downstream steel and aluminum products, which cover a significant portion of Mexico’s economy. Mexico has indicated it will not sign a deal without tariff relief; US negotiator Lutnick’s counterproposal did not resolve Mexico’s core concerns, according to sourc

2026-10-21

US and Mexican negotiators are deadlocked over steel and aluminum tariffs, with talks cooling in recent days and a potential agreement now likely to be delayed until after the US midterm elections. The impasse centers on duties applied to downstream steel and aluminum products, which cover a significant portion of Mexico’s economy. Mexico has indicated it will not sign a deal without tariff relief; US negotiator Lutnick’s counterproposal did not resolve Mexico’s core concerns, according to sources.