Baldwin and Moreno Demand Section 232 Probe into Mexican-Made Deere Machinery
Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Bernie Moreno urged a Section 232 investigation into Mexican imports of heavy machinery from Deere, Caterpillar and CNH Industrial. They cited Iowa plant closures, Wisconsin layoffs and Deere’s planned Nuevo León facility as evidence offshoring is eroding U.S. manufacturing jobs.
1. Section 232 Petition
Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Bernie Moreno sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick requesting a national security investigation under Section 232 into heavy machinery imports from Mexico. The probe would cover agricultural implements, construction and mining equipment, forestry machinery and related parts supplied by Deere & Co., Caterpillar and CNH Industrial.
2. Offshoring's Impact on U.S. Jobs
The senators cited recent plant closures in Iowa and CNH Industrial layoffs in Wisconsin alongside job cuts tied to Deere’s production shifts. They argued that duty-free treatment under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement has incentivized offshoring, resulting in significant losses to American manufacturing employment.
3. Deere’s Expanding Mexican Footprint
Deere currently operates multiple production facilities in Mexico and is set to open a Nuevo León plant in 2026 producing compact construction equipment for export markets. This expansion mirrors industry peers, raising concerns that future U.S. tariffs could disrupt supply chains and equipment availability.