President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he had a “productive conversation” with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, their first since Trump slapped tariffs on the US’ southern neighbor.
“Just had a lovely talk with Mexico’s new President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. She has committed to halt migration via Mexico and into the United States, thereby closing our southern border. We also discussed what may be done to prevent the large drug inflow into the United States, as well as U.S. usage of these substances. It was an extremely productive conversation!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The call comes after Trump promised to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian items. In his comments Wednesday, Trump did not say whether he would keep the promise, nor did anything Sheinbaum said address his worries.
Sheinbaum stated on Wednesday that she had a “excellent” conversation with Trump, though she framed the contents of the conversation differently and did not immediately outline any new policies to avoid the tariffs, instead focusing on Mexico’s existing strategy to address the immigration crisis.
In a post on X, Sheinbaum stated that she informed Trump that migrant caravans are not arriving at the US border because they are being “addressed” in Mexico.
“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,” Sheinbaum said on his blog. “This helps migrants and caravans before they reach the border. We emphasize that Mexico’s position is not to close borders, but to develop bridges between governments and peoples.”
Trump pledged on Monday to impose big tax increases on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China on the first day of his presidency. Trump stated that the measure is in punishment for illegal immigration and “crime and drugs” flooding across the border.
“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Donald Trump said on his platform, Truth Social. “This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”
Sheinbaum was not the only leader to contact Trump following his tariff vow.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau contacted Trump quickly after his social media post on Monday, according to an official in the prime minister’s office. A senior Canadian government source told AWN that the brief chat focused on border security and trade. They described the chat as productive and stated that Trudeau and Trump agreed to stay in touch in the days ahead.
Responding to Trump’s announcement, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu stated that his country has been in contact with the US about counternarcotics operations and that “the idea of China knowingly allowing fentanyl precursors to flow into the United States runs completely counter to facts and reality.”
“When it comes to US tariffs on China, China thinks that economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is mutually beneficial. Liu told AWN that no one will win a trade or tariff war.