Mexico’s President Vows Retaliation After Trump Tariff Threat
XOCHIMILCO, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 25: President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo speaks during an event on the human right to water on November 25, 2024 in Xochimilco, Mexico. (Photo by Emmanuel Rosas/ObturadorMX/Getty Images)
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded on Tuesday, November 26th to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat of across-the-board tariffs of 25% on Mexico and Canada. The Mexican president had harsh words in response, which included a threat of possible retaliation and predicted dire economic consequences for both countries if the tariffs were enacted.
“President Trump, threats and tariffs are not the way to address the migration phenomenon or drug consumption in the United States. What is needed is cooperation and mutual understanding to tackle these significant challenges,” she said.
“For every tariff, there will be a countermeasure, and so on until we jeopardize shared businesses,” she added. “Yes, shared businesses. For example, some of Mexico’s main exporters to the United States are General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company, which established operations in Mexico 80 years ago. Why impose a tax that puts them at risk? This is unacceptable and would result in inflation and job losses for both the United States and Mexico.”
The Mexican President also pointed out the guns that come from the United States, saying “Seventy percent of the illegal weapons seized from criminals in Mexico come from your country. We do not produce these weapons, nor do we consume synthetic drugs. Tragically, it is in our country that lives are lost to the violence resulting from meeting the drug demand in yours.”
She went on to discuss the many ways cooperation is the best way forward as she indicated she would seek a call with Trump to discuss the subject, as well as send a letter to the President-elect. She is also set to communicate with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
President-elect Trump has indicated tariffs would be imposed on imports from Canada and Mexico until they clamped down on drugs and migrants crossing the border. He singled out fentanyl when discussing the drugs that needed to be curtailed.
The proposed tariffs ignore the fact that Mexico is the United State’s top trade partner, representing 15.8% of total trade according to the last released numbers. Canada is number two, with 13.9%.
