Sheinbaum, who took office in October, argued the penalties would do nothing to stop the flow of migrants or drugs bound for the US, but would only cause inflation and unemployment in both countries. Instead, she called for cooperation in tackling these challenges.
In a letter Sheinbaum wrote to Trump on Tuesday, she said:
"For every tariff, there will be a countermeasure, and so on until we jeopardize our common businesses."The warning comes after Trump said on Monday that he plans to levy sweeping duties on all Canadian, Mexican, and Chinese imports after he takes office in January as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration and the US fentanyl crisis.
Trump threatened to levy
"A 25% tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada, until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country - and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China on top of existing duties."Sheinbaum noted that Mexico suffers from an influx of weapons smuggled in from the US, and pointed out that the flow of drugs across the border is fueled by American demand. It is a "problem of public health and consumption in your country's society," she said.
Comment: 'Once a user' is followed by 'multiple demands'. Where from is not the issue.
The US fentanyl epidemic and the subject of growing illegal immigration were hot topics during the 2024 American presidential election campaign. China banned the production of the synthetic opioid in 2019. Since then, Mexican drug cartels have switched to buying less controlled fentanyl precursor chemicals from Chinese companies and making the opioid in Mexico, from where it gets shipped to the US, the Drug Enforcement Administration said last month.
Mexico, China, and Canada are the top three exporters to the US, according to the most recent US Census data. Mexico is the US' biggest trading partner, making up 15.8% of total trade as of September. Canada is second at 13.9%.
Analysts say that if imposed, the tariffs would send prices skyrocketing, particularly in the US, as American companies importing Mexican goods would be forced to raise prices.
"What sense is there?" Sheinbaum asked, underscoring that higher cross-border tariffs would hit US carmakers with plants in Mexico, such as General Motors and Ford, particularly hard.
Economists say, however, that it is unclear whether Trump would go through with his threat given that the US, Mexico, and Canada share a free trade agreement which bans imposing tariffs on the member countries.
One has nothing to do with the other. The "migrants" / "illegals" come because they are invited - by the current president.
And the drugs flow because the US "elite" profits mostly from it. The gains finance the CIA black budget, and keep the banking system afloat. With the latter doing the laundering.
Tariffs will not help in that regard. In fact, I believe they are just a red herring by Trump to get some production business move back into the US, under direct control of his backers.
I am interested to see how the Mexican-US relations develop. China and Russia surely want a foothold in this country. And rumor has it the Fentanyl trade is the Chinese revenge for the opium wars and cemtury of shame.