Mexico City, Mexico — “We have the best possible agreement, even compared to other nations,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said after a Thursday meeting with Trump. Both sides talked tariffs for more than 40 minutes Thursday, the day before increases were to be imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. After their conversation, Mexico’s President Sheinbaum said “investing in Mexico remains the best option.”
Sheinbaum was accompanied by the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ramón de la Fuente and the Undersecretary for North America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Velasco during the Thursday telephone conversation.
President Sheinbaum said that a solid agreement was reached during her phone conversation with President Trump, explaining both sides agreed to 90 days to continue talks and build a longer-term agreement.
“First and foremost during the phone conversation which lasted approximately 40 minutes, our country was always treated with respect resulting in no further tariff increases and, above all, safeguarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA),” she said.
“We reached a good agreement. We’re staying put and we have 90 days to continue talking, engaging in dialogue and building a longer-term agreement. Why is this agreement important?
“Number 1. Tariffs aren’t increasing any further. If you look at the agreements with other countries, we’re actually staying the same as we were. Second. The USMCA is safeguarded and that’s very important because remember that 25 percent of the tariffs or duties are for everything that isn’t covered by the USMCA,” she explained.
Sheinbaum said that tariffs on the automotive industry will remain in place with the corresponding discount on parts manufactured in the US, Mexico and Canada, as well as on steel and aluminum.
“But it’s very important to safeguard the Treaty. Third, maintain this dialogue table, ongoing negotiations with your team. Truly, Mexico remains today, within this new world order because it’s a new world trade order. We have the best possible agreement even compared to other nations. That is, investing in Mexico remains the best option,” said Sheinbaum.
Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon acknowledged Sheinbaum’s ability to engage in talks with her U.S. counterpart and pointed out that Mexico maintains a much better position than the rest of the world.
“We’re all working on many preliminary things but without any flattery I can tell you our President’s handling of her conversations, her manner, the firmness with which she defends Mexico’s interests, her ability to convince President Trump, is tremendous,” he said.
Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente acknowledged the Mexican President’s leadership and extraordinary capacity for dialogue and added that at the end of the call, the instruction he received from the President is to continue talks with the United States.
“We will continue the dialogue, continue holding talks on various issues because it has been a strategy that has so far been highly satisfactory for Mexico. It’s an honor, Madam President, to be part of your team,” he added.
