Sheinbaum Says She’s Negotiating with U.S. to Avoid Tariff Implementation

• Sheinbaum is negotiating with the US
• Aims to Halt Tariffs on Mexico
• Political Uncertainty Looms

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced this Saturday that her administration is engaged in negotiations with the United States government.

The goal is to prevent the implementation of broad tariffs on Mexican products, scheduled to take effect on April 2.

“We are currently in negotiations with the United States government because we do not want tariffs,” Sheinbaum said.

She made the remarks during a public event in the community of Playas de Rosarito, in the border state of Baja California.

Claudia Sheinbaum Is Negotiating with the US

“We don’t want charges on Mexican exports to the United States because our economies are deeply integrated. The United States is tied to Mexico, and Mexico to the U.S.,” she added.

She noted that Baja California is home to “many factories that manufacture goods for the United States,” according to EFE.

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To postpone the tariffs twice in the past, Mexico deployed 10,000 National Guard agents to combat migrant and drug trafficking.

In particular, efforts have targeted fentanyl, with Mexican authorities reporting the seizure of nearly 24 tons of narcotics, including roughly 130 kilograms of fentanyl.

On Friday, Sheinbaum met with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in what was described as a “productive meeting.”

The two leaders discussed migration and security issues along the shared border.

They also agreed to continue working together, with Noem noting there is still “much work to be done.”

The meeting at Mexico’s National Palace marked the first high-level dialogue between the two governments since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20.

Though commercial topics were not discussed, the meeting came amid rising tensions over Trump’s announcement of 25% general tariffs.

This is set to begin April 2, according to EFE.

Regarding her conversation with Noem, Sheinbaum said they discussed binational security concerns and that she outlined five principles guiding Mexico’s foreign policy.

“First, shared responsibility. They have responsibility, and so do we; second, mutual trust; third, respect for sovereignty,” she said.

“Mexico is a free, independent, and sovereign nation; fourth, cooperation without subordination—we cooperate and coordinate, but we never subordinate ourselves; and fifth, respect for Mexico and for Mexicans,” Sheinbaum added.

The president also acknowledged the contributions of Mexican workers in the United States, noting that their labor supports families back home and helps sustain the US economy.

Since returning to the White House on January 20, Trump has taken actions including designating multiple drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

This move paves the way for economic sanctions and comes alongside accusations that Mexico is not doing enough to stop the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to thousands of overdose deaths in the US.

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