 "Mexico's prez claims 'no potential tariff war’ with US after a 'very good' phone call with Trump")
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said that “there will not be a potential tariff war” with the United States after she held a “very kind” telephonic conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump. In the call which took place on Wednesday, the two leaders discussed the immigration and the fentanyl crisis that have engulfed both nations.
The proclamation from the Mexican president came while she was speaking to reporters, a day after the phone call. The two leaders had talks after Trump threatened to apply a 25 per cent tariff against Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10 per cent tariff against China, when he takes office in January. The Republican firebrand argued that his administration would be imposing higher tariffs if the countries did not stop all illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling into the US.
After the call on Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social, claiming that during the call, Sheinbaum had “agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border”. After clarifying it on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sheinbaum reiterated that she did not agree to shut down the Mexican border with the United States.
Sheinbaum maintains an optimistic stance
While she cleared up her stance, the Mexican president did not slam the upcoming American leader’s comments over the matter. “Each person has their own way of communicating,” Sheinbaum said. “But I can assure you, I guarantee you, that we never – additionally, we would be incapable of doing so – proposed that we would close the border in the north [of Mexico], or in the south of the United States. It has never been our idea and, of course, we are not in agreement with that," she added.
She went on to state that the two leaders did not discuss tariffs, however, she emphasised that the conversation had reassured her that no tit-for-tat tariff battle would be needed in the future. On Monday, Trump said that Mexico and Canada should use their power to address drug trafficking and migration and, until they do, “it is time for them to pay a very big price!”
The very next day, Sheinbaum mentioned that Mexico would retaliate with tariffs of its own. In the phone call with Trump, Sheinbaum told the American president-elect of the various migration initiatives her government has undertaken, including providing resources and support to Central American countries and migrants arriving in Mexico.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Potential immigrants will not reach the northern border, because Mexico has a strategy”, Sheinbaum explained. She also said that Trump expressed interest in the government-driven programs to address fentanyl addiction and overdoses in Mexico. She also raised the issue of American-made weapons entering Mexico from the US to be used by drug cartels.
“What I base myself on is the conversation – the two conversations – that I had with President Trump, and then, at the moment, the communication we will have with his work team and when he takes office,” Sheinbaum said. “We will always defend our sovereignty. Mexico is a free, independent, sovereign country – and that is above everything else,” she concluded.
With inputs from agencies.
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