New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Monday “temporarily suspended” new tariffs on Mexican goods for one month after reaching an agreement with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Under the agreement, Mexico will deploy 10,000 National Guard members to its northern border to stem the flow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, and curb illegal immigration into the US In return, the US has committed to taking action to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons into Mexico, President Sheinbaum announced on X (formerly Twitter).
Friendly conversation between Trump and Sheinbaum
“I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States. These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our Country. We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The decision came just hours before the tariffs, which were also set to impact China and Canada, were due to take effect.
Both leaders confirmed the arrangement following a telephonic conversation earlier in the day. “I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a ‘deal’ between our two Countries,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Sheinbaum echoed Trump’s sentiment, saying, “We have this month to work and convince each other that this is the best way forward. She was speaking at a press conference.
The agreement comes less than 48 hours after Trump announced sweeping tariffs on goods from the US’s top three trading partners—Mexico, Canada, and China—covering $2.1 trillion in annual trade.
Deal with Mexico provides temporary relief
While the deal with Mexico provides temporary relief, similar agreements with Canada and China appear unlikely in the immediate future. Trump has maintained his hawkish stance towards Canada, even after a call with Justin Trudeau.
The tariffs on Canadian and Chinese goods are set to begin at 12.01am US time on Tuesday, with Canada already announcing retaliatory measures. Trump also indicated that the European Union could be his next target, citing imbalances in trade. “They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products. They take almost nothing, and we take everything from them,” Trump told reporters in Washington on Sunday.
EU leaders responded from an informal summit in Brussels, signalling readiness to retaliate if the US proceeds with tariffs, though they also called for negotiation and reason.
While Trump has acknowledged that the tariffs will cause short-term difficulties for US consumers but argued they are necessary to curb illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and to bolster domestic industries.
