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Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday Mexico would retaliate if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump followed through with his proposed 25% across-the-board tariff, a move her government warned could kill 400,000 U.S. jobs and drive up prices for U.S. consumers.
This appears to be in contrast to what Trump described as a “wonderful” and “very productive” conversation with President Claudia Sheinbaum in a conversation
The discussion, which occurred on Wednesday, focused on border control, migration, and combating illegal drug flows.
However, the two leaders appear to differ significantly in their interpretation of the outcomes.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, claimed that Sheinbaum had agreed to measures that would “effectively close our Southern Border.” He stated, “Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately. This will go a long way toward stopping the illegal invasion of the USA.”
In response, President Sheinbaum contradicted his assertions, emphasising Mexico’s approach to handling migration with respect for human rights.
She shared on X, formerly Twitter, “In our conversation with President Trump, I explained to him the comprehensive strategy that Mexico has followed to address the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights. Thanks to this, migrants and caravans are assisted before they reach the border. We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples.”
The Mexican leader also highlighted that caravans are being managed within Mexico to prevent large groups from reaching the northern border, an approach that differs from Trump’s interpretation of their discussion.
Trump also noted on Truth Social that the conversation addressed the issue of illegal drugs, including fentanyl.
He announced plans for a large-scale US advertising campaign to educate the public on the dangers of fentanyl use, stating, “I will be working on a large-scale United States Advertising Campaign, explaining how bad Fentanyl is for people to use – Millions of lives being so needlessly destroyed. By the time the Campaign is over, everyone will know how really bad the horror of this Drug is.”
President Sheinbaum, in her statement, confirmed the drug issue was discussed but stressed the importance of cooperation while preserving Mexico’s sovereignty. She wrote, “We discussed strengthening collaboration on security issues within the framework of our sovereignty and the campaign we are carrying out in the country to prevent the consumption of fentanyl.”
The dialogue between the two leaders comes as Trump has announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican imports on his first day in office. Sheinbaum firmly opposed the proposed tariff, cautioning against initiating a trade conflict. During a press conference, she read from a letter addressed to Trump, stating, “President Trump, it is not with threats nor with tariffs that migration and drug consumption in the US will be dealt with. These great challenges require cooperation and mutual understanding.”
Sheinbaum also attributed Mexico’s struggles with crime and drugs to US demand and the proliferation of American firearms. She remarked, “We don’t make guns, we don’t consume synthetic drugs. Those killed by crime to meet the demand for drugs in your country are unfortunately our responsibility.”
The disagreement marks a departure from the relationship Trump enjoyed with former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who had cooperated with Trump’s border enforcement measures during his previous term.
While the leaders found some common ground on addressing drugs and migration, their differing accounts suggest significant gaps in their positions, particularly on border enforcement and tariffs.
(ABC NEWS)
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