The Secretaría Anticorrupción y Buen Gobierno published on Monday, August 31, in the Diario Oficial de la Federación an agreement that for the first time incorporates steel manufactured in Mexico into the national content calculation for public works. The reform, reported by Energía a Debate, applies to contracts awarded by agencies and entities of the Federal Public Administration.
The change implements the Acuerdo para el Fomento de la Industria Siderúrgica Mexicana (Agreement for the Promotion of the Mexican Steel Industry), signed on April 29 by President Claudia Sheinbaum. Until now, the national content calculation considered materials used directly in construction and permanently installed machinery, but not domestic steel incorporated into infrastructure. Under the new rules, that value is also counted, according to Crónica. The measure comes as Mexico negotiates with the United States a reduction to the 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum, an issue affecting industrial employment on both sides of the border. The agency described the agreement as a step toward ensuring that public spending drives the steel industry and its supply chains.
The percentage of domestic steel will be defined for each project based on production availability in Mexico, required quality, delivery timelines, and the technical specifications of the work, the agency led by Raquel Buenrostro detailed. Awarded companies will be required to submit documentation certifying compliance with the applicable percentages, and agencies will verify upon receipt of materials that they meet the requirements of each procurement process. The reform amends rules published in 2010 and subsequently amended in August 2025 and January 2026, and aims to provide greater certainty and traceability in the use of Mexican steel in public infrastructure. The ministry noted that the new provisions strengthen verification of steel origin.
The ministry indicated it will continue to promote public procurement with clear and verifiable rules, while the steel industry monitors the implementation of the measure in upcoming tender processes and the outcome of the tariff negotiations with Washington.
This article was drafted with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.