Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has pledged to have a good working relationship with President-elect Donald Trump once he takes office, has responded to Trump’s statement on November 25, 2024, in which he promised tariffs on Mexico and Canada due to their allowing illegal immigration and the flow of drugs across their borders into the United States to go unchecked.
MORE: Trump Pledges Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China in Sweeping Trade Policy Announcement
As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before. Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!
Sheinbaum’s response reads as follows:
I am writing to you regarding your statement on Monday, November 25, concerning migration, fentanyl trafficking, and tariffs.
You may not be aware that Mexico has developed a comprehensive policy to assist migrants from different parts of the world who cross our territory en route to the southern border of the United States. As a result, and according to data from your country’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP), encounters at the Mexico–United States border have decreased by 75% between December 2023 and November 2024. Moreover, half of those who arrive do so through a legally scheduled appointment under the United States’ CBP One program. For these reasons, migrant caravans no longer arrive at the border.
Even so, it is clear that we must work together to create a new labor mobility model that is necessary for your country, as well as address the root causes that compel families to leave their homes out of necessity. If even a small percentage of what the United States allocates to war were instead dedicated to building peace and fostering development, it would address the underlying causes of human mobility.
On another note, and for humanitarian reasons, Mexico has consistently expressed its willingness to help prevent the fentanyl epidemic in the United States from continuing. This is, after all, a public health and consumption problem within your society. So far this year, Mexican armed forces and prosecutors have seized tons of various types of drugs, 10,340 firearms, and have detained 15,640 individuals for violence related to drug trafficking.
Furthermore, the Mexican Congress is in the process of approving a constitutional reform to classify the production, distribution, and commercialization of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs as a serious crime without bail. However, it is publicly known that the chemical precursors used to produce this and other synthetic drugs are illegally entering Canada, the United States, and Mexico from Asian countries. This underscores the urgent need for international collaboration.
You must also be aware of the illegal trafficking of firearms into my country from the United States.
Seventy percent of the illegal weapons seized from criminals in Mexico come from your country. We do not produce these weapons, nor do we consume synthetic drugs. Tragically, it is in our country that lives are lost to the violence resulting from meeting the drug demand in yours.
President Trump, migration and drug consumption in the United States cannot be addressed through threats or tariffs. What is needed is cooperation and mutual understanding to tackle these significant challenges.
For every tariff, there will be a response in kind, until we put at risk our shared enterprises. Yes, shared. For instance, among Mexico’s main exporters to the United States are General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company, which arrived in Mexico 80 years ago. Why impose a tariff that would jeopardize them? Such a measure would be unacceptable and would lead to inflation and job losses in both the United States and Mexico.
I am convinced that North America’s economic strength lies in maintaining our trade partnership. This allows us to remain competitive against other economic blocs. For this reason, I believe that dialogue is the best path to understanding, peace, and prosperity for our nations. I hope our teams can meet soon to continue building joint solutions.
An analysis of Sheinbaum’s statement reveals that while she talks a good game, she is dealing from a position of weakness. A starting point is her comment:
we must work together to create a new labor mobility model that is necessary for your country, as well as address the root causes that compel families to leave their homes out of necessity
The root cause of why people seek to leave Mexico and other Central American countries in search of work — I speak of those seeking genuine work, not looking to sponge off the American taxpayer or profit via criminal activity — is the economic and political corruption that lies at the heart of these countries. Leaders such as El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, whose merciless assault on gangs in his country has dramatically reduced the crime rate, and Argentina’s Javier Milei, who has embraced a similar war on crime, are outliers. Mexico reels daily from gang violence of the most brutal nature imaginable as rivals fight for control of the drug and sex trafficking trade.
Sheinbaum embraces a curious moment of blame-shifting.
Seventy percent of the illegal weapons seized from criminals in Mexico come from your country. We do not produce these weapons, nor do we consume synthetic drugs. Tragically, it is in our country that lives are lost to the violence resulting from meeting the drug demand in yours.
Sheinbaum is incorrect in declaring fentanyl use is not a problem in her country. Evidence to the contrary, despite a mixture of inadequate testing and understanding about the drug’s nature, states otherwise. As to the lives lost, this is the result of Mexican citizens choosing to engage in illegal activities. Americans abusing illegal drugs may be the fuel for Mexican drug wars, but they are not the fire.
Sheinbaum promises tit-for-tat tariffs should Trump go through with his plan. This is a hollow threat. There are very few, if any, products coming from Mexico that cannot be sourced from elsewhere, including the car manufacturers Sheinbaum namechecks.
One of Trump’s greatest strengths is his understanding of how to get his way without forcing an opponent to lose face. Expect him and Sheinbaum to, in time, make a joint appearance together with mutual pledges regarding stopping the illegal flow of weaponry from the United States into Mexico and Mexico at least nominally toughening its border security. Donald Trump greatly prefers using the carrot over the stick. For the sake of her people, hopefully, Claudia Sheinbaum gets the hint.
