President Claudia Sheinbaum announced today that she will hold a call with United States President Donald Trump after the tariffs against Mexico came into effect and the announcement of measures in response.
Mexico City.- “This week we have a call scheduled with President Trump, probably on Thursday,” the head of the Executive revealed during her usual press conference, in which she rejected Washington’s decision to apply 25 percent tariffs on goods from this country.
The dignitary reiterated that, in the event that these tariffs continue, her nation will announce a plan with tariff and non-tariff measures at a rally called for next Sunday in the emblematic Zócalo square, in this capital.
Referring to the tariffs' consequences in terms of the country's economy, she urged “not to be afraid, because Mexicans always get ahead and we will get ahead in the face of any adversity, together.”
“I am calling for all of us, all Mexicans, to take on this challenge that is presented to us, but the responsibility, as I said yesterday, for the tariffs is a decision of the United States government, a unilateral decision,” she said.
She referred to the phone calls and meetings held between both parties, especially the one held in Washington on security, since the one-month pause in tariffs agreed between the two administrations on February 3.
“So, how is it that in the middle of a coordination agreement, there is a decision by the United States government that the 25 percent tariffs are imposed anyway?” the dignitary questioned, emphasizing that the Latin American nation will never close itself off to dialogue.
“But we also have to make our own decisions to protect national and foreign industries in Mexico and protect our people. And we do not want to enter into a trade war. That only affects people.”
Washington’s justification for applying the tariffs is that Mexico supposedly does not do enough in areas such as the fight against drug trafficking; however, the results of this nation in that area are eloquent during the Sheinbaum administration.
In the case of fentanyl trafficking, the figures from the Customs and Border Protection Office of the neighboring nation show that seizures of that substance in the United States from Mexico were reduced by 50 percent from October 2024 to last January. In addition, during the five months of this government, the Latin American country seized 6,998 firearms (75 percent of which come from the United States), and 121.4 tons of drugs, including 1,260 kilograms and 1,332,126 fentanyl pills.
“That is why we are emphatic: there is no reason or justification that supports this decision that will affect our people and nation. We have said it in different ways: cooperation and coordination yes; subordination, interventionism no,” the ruler reaffirmed. (PL)
