US Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs: Mexico Urges ‘Prudence’ & Plans US Trip

MEXICO CITY—Mexico’s secretary of the economy, Marcelo Ebrard, urged “prudence” Friday following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated part of President Trump’s sweeping tariff regimen.

“We have to see where What we have is going,” Ebrard told reporters. “We have to see what measures [Washington] is going to take to figure out how it is going to affect our country.”

Amid widespread concern about tariffs in Mexico—the United States’ major commercial partner, with almost $1 trillion in annual two-way trade—Ebrard cautioned: “I tell you to put yourselves in Zen mode. As tranquil as possible.”

The Supreme Court’s decision is prompting assessment from nations across the globe, with some leaders expressing relief. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, wrote on X, “The justices have shown that even a US president does not operate in a legal vacuum. Legal boundaries have been set, the era of unlimited, arbitrary tariffs may now be coming to an end.”

Canada’s trade minister, Dominic LeBlanc, also commented on the ruling via X, stating that the decision reinforces Canada’s position that the tariffs imposed by the United States using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) “are unjustified.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, when asked about the tariffs, said, “We’ll review the resolution carefully and then gladly give our opinion.”

Ebrard announced plans to travel to the United States next week to seek clarification on the implications of the ruling.

Last year, Ebrard noted, Mexico successfully avoided a threatened 25% across-the-board levy on all Mexican imports. However, Mexico has continued to challenge Trump administration tariffs on imports of vehicles, steel, and aluminum, among other products.

The Supreme Court’s decision specifically voided so-called fentanyl tariffs imposed on Mexico, China, and Canada. The Trump administration had implemented these levies in an effort to compel the three nations to intensify their efforts to combat the trafficking of the synthetic opioid.

Following the ruling, Trump indicated his intention to pursue alternate legal avenues to reimpose the tariffs that were struck down.

Approximately 85% of Mexican exports to the United States are currently exempt from tariffs due to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This agreement extended a largely free-trade arrangement between the three nations, replacing the former North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The USMCA is scheduled for a joint review starting July 1, marking six years since the agreement was initially signed during Trump’s first presidential term.