During a rally convened this Sunday, March 9 to enter into an agreement with the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to delay the entry into force of these until April 2the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaumwas declared optimistic about an arrangement that definitely blinds the Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, the T-MEC, which would receive a devastating blow if Washington ends up imposing 25% tariff taxes to its two business partners.
“We are optimistic because that day (…) the United States government has announced that it will put reciprocal tariffs to all countries of the world” and in the case of Mexico “They would not have to apply” because they do not exist by virtue of T-MEC, said the leftist president in the Zocalo of the capital, the main public square of the country, where some 350 thousand people met, according to local government figures.
The United States is the destination of 80% of Mexican exports.
Originally, Sheinbaumwhose popularity is around 80%, organized this act to announce the “tariff and non -tariff measures” with which Mexico would respond in case of rates.
However, the Republican tycoon paused the application of the measure on Thursday, March 6 after a telephone conversation with Sheinbaumarguing that he did it in consideration of her.
“We met to congratulate ourselves because in the relationship with the United States, with its government, dialogue and respect prevailed, and the rates were raised,” said the president in a patriotic environment.
From a platform installed in front of the National Palace, the headquarters of the Government, it also warned: “We cannot give in our sovereignty, nor can our people be affected by decisions that make foreign governments or hegemonies.”
Trump wields tariffs as a punishment to Mexico and Canada for tolerating, according to him, the entry of undocumented and fentanyl migrants, associated with tens of thousands of deaths due to overdose every year in the United States.
“Has the pants”
“You are not alone,” a rally chanted under an intense sun. Some highlighted Sheinbaum’s “temper” against Trump, who has accused his government of being infiltrated by drug trafficking and promises to fight a “war” against Mexican cartels.
“Claudia has dealt well with Trump. As she says, you have to be calm and patience,” Perla Aquino, a 45 -year -old employee, told AFP, in the midst of flags of Mexico and the MORENA official party.
“He has the pants to face the American tycoon who is putting his foot (…). I hope this has consequences for the Americans because we do not have to be paying their broken dishes,” said Claudia Cabrera, a 29 -year -old psychologist.
Despite Trump’s threatening tone against Mexico, Sheinbaum thanked the “will” dialogue of his counterpart, who even described her recently as a “wonderful” woman and promised to replicate her national campaign against fentanil.
“With respectful information and dialogue we can always achieve a relationship of respect. Until now it has been so,” said the president, who, however, said that Mexicans will never forget the “Zarpazo” of the United States in the middle of its territory during the invasions of 1846 and 1914.
Risk of recession
Citing US official figures, the president also revindicated that thanks to the seizures made in Mexicothe entry of fentanyl to USA 3,100 km border was reduced 50% between October 2024 and January 2025.
Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico will continue to cooperate to face this traffic for “humanitarian reasons” and that it expects the United States to fulfill its commitments to control arms trafficking towards Mexican criminal organizations.
While Mexico is an important US supplier of products such as avocado and tequila, the greatest impact would be for production chains in the three T-MEC partners.
The British firm Capital Economics explained in a report that the application of the Tariffs announced by Trump It would lead Mexico to an economic recession.