President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has addressed the differing accounts of her recent conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump, which took place on Wednesday, November 27. After the call, Trump claimed that Sheinbaum had “agreed to stop migration through Mexico into the United States,” effectively closing the southern border. However, Sheinbaum has denied making such a promise, clarifying that she merely reiterated Mexico’s stance on migration.
In a statement on Thursday, Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico’s policy is not to close its borders but rather to build stronger connections between governments and people. She also stressed that Mexico remains committed to managing migration in a way that benefits both nations without resorting to extreme measures like border closures.
Trump’s Tariff Threat and Mexico’s Response
The phone call followed a controversial announcement by Trump on Monday, November 25, where he stated that, upon taking office in January, he would impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, and a 10% tariff on goods from China. Trump declared that these tariffs would only be removed if illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the United States were halted.
In response to Trump’s tariff threat, Sheinbaum had initially vowed to retaliate with her own tariffs if the US went ahead with the proposed duties. She stated that Mexico would respond with countermeasures, potentially violating the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal signed by Trump in 2018.
Clarification on Immigration and Fentanyl Trafficking Discussions
During a press conference on Thursday, November 28, Sheinbaum clarified that the topic of tariffs had not been specifically discussed in her call with Trump. Instead, they focused on issues of immigration and fentanyl trafficking—two major reasons Trump cited for the tariff proposal.
Sheinbaum assured Trump that a migrant caravan he had raised concerns about would not reach the US-Mexico border, noting that such a situation was “not going to happen.” Despite these assurances, she again emphasized that Mexico’s position has always been to avoid closing the border with the United States.
No Possibility of a Tariff War, Sheinbaum Says
Sheinbaum described the conversation as “very amiable” and stated that both sides had agreed to continue discussions. She also downplayed the earlier tensions over tariffs, insisting that there was now “no possibility of a tariff war” between the two nations.
The clarification comes amid ongoing concerns over trade relations between the US and Mexico, with both countries working to resolve their differences in a constructive manner.
