The Vietnam Trade Office in Mexico said the move helps partially restore steel trade between the two countries as Mexican authorities are tightening controls over origin and technical standards for imported steel.

Previously, since May 2025, all Vietnamese steel mills had been removed from the list of eligible mills due to administrative and technical review requirements, significantly disrupting steel exports to the market.

According to the Vietnam Steel Association, Mexico is one of the key markets in Latin America for Vietnamese steel, particularly for cold-rolled steel, coated steel and construction steel products.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Mexico said the reinstatement of the two mills is the result of ongoing exchanges between relevant agencies of both countries, combined with efforts to complete technical documentation and demonstrate origin and production processes in line with Mexico’s requirements. These efforts were carried out through both technical and diplomatic channels, gradually resolving procedural and standards-related issues.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s Ministry of Economy said the review of the list of eligible steel mills forms part of a new trade policy aimed at strengthening domestic production capacity and reducing reliance on external supply. In recent years, Mexico’s steel industry has faced increasing competitive pressure from low-priced imports, prompting the Ministry to tighten control measures to protect the domestic production chain.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Mexico recommended that domestic steel enterprises continue to closely monitor developments in Mexico’s trade policy and strengthen their capacity to meet technical requirements, particularly in traceability of raw materials, environmental standards and transparent production processes. At the same time, businesses should strengthen coordination with relevant agencies to promptly resolve emerging issues and safeguard their legitimate interests in export activities.

The trade office also said it will maintain regular exchanges with Mexican counterparts, including the National Chamber of the Iron and Steel Industry, to promote technical dialogue, remove obstacles and create more favourable access conditions for Vietnamese steel products in the Mexican market in the coming period.

The gradual restoration of Vietnamese enterprises’ position on the list of eligible steel mills not only carries immediate trade significance but also serves as an important test of the sector’s adaptability as global supply chains are being reshaped and competition over standards and transparency increasingly becomes a prerequisite for entering major markets.

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