Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Photo: Presidencia

By KELIN DILLON

While U.S. President Donald J. Trump implemented sweeping tariffs on goods from almost every country in the world, Mexico, one of the United States’ most prominent trade partners, was spared entirely from Trump’s global economic bloodbath on Wednesday, April 2.

Though Mexico has faced the threat of 25 percent U.S. tariffs for months, Trump’s tariff announcements on his so-called “Liberation Day” revealed that Mexico, alongside its United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) partner Canada,  is one of the few nations that escaped his sanctions.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (CSP) highlighted Trump’s decision as “good for the country” during her daily morning press conference on Thursday, April 3.

“In Mexico’s case, there are no additional tariffs, nor for Canada,” said CSP at the time.

“Although some don’t want to recognize it, it has to do with the good relationship we’ve built between the Mexican government and the United States, based on respect, collaboration, and coordination, but with respect for Mexicans and national sovereignty, and that has allowed Mexico to have no additional tariffs,” continued the Mexican federal executive.

Despite the majority of Mexican goods being spared, the nation still must face the 25 percent tariffs on automotive, steel and aluminum goods implemented by Trump earlier this month, an issue Sheinbaum said her government will continue to negotiate with the United States.

“We are still in discussion with the United States government; the Mexican Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, has built a very good relationship with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce based on the calls we have had with President Trump, and we continue working,” she said. 

“In fact, very probably Ebrard will be in Washington next week,” added Sheinbaum.

CSP also noted how her administration is focused on developing and implementing Plan Mexico, her government’s strategy for growing the Mexican economy and its internal manufacturing industries for “the well-being of the people of Mexico.”