Sheinbaum said she will reveal the targeted products on Sunday at a public event in Mexico City’s central plaza. The delay may suggest that Mexico is still open to diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the trade dispute.
“There is no motive or reason, nor justification that supports this decision that will affect our people and our nations,” Sheinbaum said, criticising the tariffs on two of the United States’ largest trading partners.
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While China and Canada responded swiftly to Washington’s latest trade measures, Mexico has opted for a more measured approach. Canada has already announced retaliatory tariffs on over $100 billion worth of American goods within 21 days.
The US tariffs, which took effect at midnight on Tuesday, impose a 25% duty on imports from Mexico and Canada, while Canadian energy products face a 10% import tax.
Sheinbaum also rejected claims made in a White House fact sheet that accused the Mexican government of tolerating drug trafficking. She dismissed the statement as “offensive, defamatory and without support” and highlighted her administration’s crackdown on drug cartels. Mexico has seized over a ton of fentanyl, dismantled 329 methamphetamine labs, and extradited 29 cartel figures requested by the US just last week, she said.
“We collaborate to avoid illegal drug trafficking to the United States, but as we have said on multiple occasions, that country’s government must take responsibility too for the crisis of opioid consumption that has caused so many deaths in the United States,” Sheinbaum said.
She stressed that Mexico’s countermeasures are not intended to provoke economic confrontation but to defend its interests.
“It’s inconceivable that they don’t think about the damage this is going to cause to United States citizens and businesses with the increase in prices for things produced in our country,” she said. “Also the damage it will cause by stopping job creation in both countries. No one wins with this decision.”
Meanwhile, China has also announced additional tariffs of up to 15% on key US agricultural products, including chicken, pork, soy, and beef, in response to Washington’s latest trade moves. Beijing has also expanded restrictions on US companies.
China’s tariffs, set to take effect on March 10, follow Trump’s decision to impose a 20% tariff on Chinese imports, along with the 25% duties on Canada and Mexico.
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