A conversation between President Donald Trump and his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum led to the temporary suspension of 25 % American tariffs on products from that country. Both leaders spoke in an “excellent and respectful call.”
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Thursday the temporary suspension of 25 % tariffs To most Mexican products, after a conversation with his counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum, who thanked the president for the decision. Later, the president extended relief to some Canada products.
Trump explained that the suspension agreement will be valid until April 2 and will cover all the products covered under the free trade agreement known as T-MEC or “Treaty United States-Mexico-Canada”, which includes the majority of trade between the two nations.
“I did it as a form of deference and out of respect for President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been very good and we are working hard, together, on the border, both in terms of preventing illegal immigrants from entering the United States as well as stopping the fentanil,” wrote The president in his social truth account.
For her part, the Mexican president thanked Trump through A post in the social network Xwhere he highlighted the “excellent and respectful call” he held with his counterpart.
“We agree that our work and collaboration have given unprecedented results, within the framework of respect for our sovereignty. We will continue working together, particularly in migration and security issues, which include reduction of the illegal crossing of fentanyl to the United States, as well as weapons towards Mexico,” he said.
The president confirmed that “it will not be required that Mexico pay tariffs in all those products within the T-MEC. This agreement is until April 2, when the US will announce reciprocal tariffs for all countries.”
Relief of some tariffs to Canada
Later, from the Oval office, President Trump signed an order to also extend the relief of tariffs to Canada and some of his products that are covered under the T-MEC.
“Most tariffs will take effect on April 2,” Trump said before signing the orders. “And then we have some temporary and other small tariffs, relatively small, although it is a lot of money that has to do with Mexico and Canada.”
The tariffs to Canada and Mexico came effect on March 4, after which Sheinbaum reported that he would prepare A plan with several measures that would include tariffs in response to the measures taken by the US. While Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford said that as of Monday the province would charge 25 % more for electricity sent to 1.5 million Americans in response to Trump's tariff plan.
The president said Tuesday that “there is no reason, reason, or justification that supports this decision” of Washington.
Canada's cars that comply with the trade agreement would also avoid 25 % tariffs for a month and exclude tariffs on potassa, a fundamental fertilizer for US farmers.
However, it does not completely cover energy products, which Trump has imposed a separate tax of 10%. A White House official said that this is because not all the energy products imported from Canada are covered by the commercial agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada that Trump negotiated in his first mandate as president.
The White House insists that its tariffs aim to stop fentanyl smuggling.
At a press conference after the call, President Sheinbaum said she presented the president Donald Trump a statistic about the reductions in the seizures of the US fentanyl on her southern border, figures that were taken to pause the tariffs again.
“Only in February, the reduction of fentanyl seizures on the United States side on the border with Mexico were reduced by 41.5 %,” said Sheinbaum.
On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced the suspension of the tariff to vehicle imports from Mexico and Canada for a month, in the midst of fears that the imposition of rates can harm the “three great” American car manufacturers: Ford, GM and Stellantis.
Trump said he had no intention of extending the exemption from the 25 % tariff for cars for one more month.
In his recent speech to the nation before CongressTrump said tariffs try to “protect the interests of the United States”, and considered that although a period of difficulty for a while, the final result will be successful for the country may occur.
(With the collaboration of Syndy García of the team of La LA Youth in Mexico City; and with information from The Associated Press and Reuters)