Mexican president responds to Trump’s tariff threat with a promise of retaliation

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has issued a stern warning to US President-elect Donald Trump, promising retaliatory action if he implements proposed 25 percent tariffs on Mexican goods. In a pointed letter, Sheinbaum called for cooperation in the conflict, criticized US policies on gun control and drug demand, and outlined the economic risks of such tariffs to both nations.

Sheinbaum warned of a “response in kind” if tariffs are imposed, citing economic interdependence between Mexico and the U.S.
She pointed to the contributions of major U.S. companies operating in Mexico, such as Ford and General Motors, to underscore potential mutual economic harm.
Trump’s tariff proposal aligns with his broader economic and immigration policies, including restoring the “Remain in Mexico” program.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opted for diplomacy, discussing economic relations with Trump during a call after the tariff announcement.

Mexican president responds to Trump's tariff threat with a promise of retaliation

‘Response in kind’: Mexican president hints at retaliation against Trump’s tariff threats

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has strongly suggested she will retaliate if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose heavy tariffs on her country.

In a bluntly worded letter to the president-elect, Sheinbaum encouraged Americans to spend more money on “encouraging development” instead of war, blamed the U.S. for Mexico’s gun count and gave his country credit for dropping the number of migrants. along the US-Mexico border. She also warned that her government would have a “response in kind” if Trump went ahead with his threat to slap a 25 percent tariff on all Mexican goods.

“President Trump, migration and drug use in the United States cannot be addressed through threats or tariffs,” Sheinbaum wrote to the incoming president on Tuesday, according to a translation from her letter. “What is needed is cooperation and mutual understanding to meet these significant challenges.”

“For every tariff, there will be a response in kind until we put our joint ventures at risk,” she continued. “Yes, shared.”

Sheinbaum’s letter came in response to an announcement by Trump on Monday in which he POSTED on social media that on the first day of his administration he will impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian goods until their governments do more to limit the level of drugs and illegal migration flowing into the US.

In what appeared to be a more diplomatic approach to the tariff threat, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had been in touch with Trump on Monday night and that they had a “good call” about the issue and how their two countries they are very interconnected from an economic point of view. conformable at Politico. Canadian officials also released a statement outlining how border security is a top priority for their government.

In her letter to Trump, the Mexican president also mentioned the possible economic impact that high tariffs would impose on both countries.

“For example, Mexico’s top exporters to the United States include General Motors, Stellantis and the Ford Motor Company, which arrived in Mexico 80 years ago,” Sheinbaum wrote. “Why impose a tariff that puts them at risk? Such a measure would be unacceptable and would lead to inflation and job losses in both the United States and Mexico.”

Trump’s tariff threat is largely consistent with his economic philosophy. The then candidate described a tariff as “the most beautiful word in the dictionary” during an interview in October, and his recent choice to serve as the next Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, was a public advocate of tariffs.

The threat is also in line with Trump’s hard line immigration execution. The president-elect has promised to bring back the Remain in Mexico program, continue building the border wall and end birthright citizenship for those born to illegal immigrant parents. He also promised to lead the largest deportation operation in US history.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan news service, is freely available to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a broad audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s name and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our rules or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].