Mexico’s economy secretariat, SE, will extend an existing 15 percent duty on certain steel imports for six more months, according to Mexican media citing the country’s economy secretary, Ildefonso Guajardo. The announcement was made this week by SE officials during a eeting with Canacero, Mexico’s steel association.

The 15 percent duty is valid for certain steel imports for the countries Mexico does not have trade agreements with. The products include slab, CRC, HRC, heavy plate and wire rod from other countries, especially China, Taiwan and South Korea. The duty was first introduced in October 2015 and it has been renewed several times since.

Recently, Alonso Ancira Elizondo, president of Mexican integrated steelmaker Altos Hornos de Mexico (AHMSA), said about 23,000 Mexican jobs would be at risk if the existing 15 percent duty on certain steel imports was not extended.