Donald Trump has agreed to “pause” new tariffs on Mexico after he and the country’s president Claudia Sheinbaum had a “good conversation”.
This weekend, the new US president announced that he was imposing a 25% tariff on the country over their failure to stem the flow of people and drugs over their shared land border, accusing the country of an “intolerable alliance” with Mexican crime groups.
Sheinbaum labelled the accusation “slanderous” but confirmed on Monday that she had agreed on a “series of agreements” with Trump.
The Mexican president confirmed on X: “Mexico will immediately reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, particularly fentanyl.”
Sheinbaum also confirmed that in return, the US would work to limit the supply of high velocity weapons into Mexico.
Trump commented on the agreement on his social platform Truth Social, saying that the month-long pause would see the two countries engage in further discussions.
He said: « We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico.
“I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a ‘deal’ between our two Countries.”
US stocks dropped sharply on Monday morning following the weekend’s announcement that tariffs would be imposed on Mexico, Canada and China.
Following the announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that his country would reciprocate as he warned the American public that they would feel the impact of increasing the cost of importing into the country.
Commenting online following the announcement, Trump claimed that the US pays “hundreds of Billions of Dollars to subsidise Canada.”
He added: “We don’t need anything they have… Harsh but true!
“Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!”
A senior Canadian official told a New York Times reporter that Ottawa is not optimistic a similar reprieve is in the offing, the reporter said on X.
The American president has also vowed to impose tariffs on the European Union whilst refusing to rule out the possibility of doing so to the UK.
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