On call with Trump, Mexico President Sheinbaum suggests no change despite facing tariff threats to curb illegal immigration and drugs

Trump threatens tariffs on Mexico and Canada to curb illegal immigration and drugs, sparking a diplomatic exchange with Mexico.

President-elect Donald Trump declared a win on stopping illegal immigration through Mexico on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) after talking with that country’s leader. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested that Mexico was already doing its part and that it had no interest in closing its borders.

The two spoke just days after Mr. Trump threatened to impose sweeping new tariffs on Canada and Mexico as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.

Mr. Trump said Ms. Sheinbaum “agreed to stop Migration through Mexico.” Ms. Sheinbaum indicated separately on social media that she told Mr. Trump that Mexico is already “taking care of” migrant caravans, calling it an “excellent conversation.”

“We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples,” Ms. Sheinbaum added.

While the state of the proposed tariffs remained unclear, Mr. Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account that this was “effectively closing our Southern Border.” He called it a “very productive conversation.”

The exchange between the two leaders appeared to confirm for Mr. Trump the value of threatening to disrupt trade with import taxes. His initial social media post moved financial markets and gave him a response he was quick to describe as a win. Even if the proposed tariffs fail to materialise, Mr. Trump can tell supporters that the mere possibility of them is an effective policy tool and continues to rely on tariff threats.

Ms. Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the leaders “discussed Mexico’s strategy on migration issues, and I told him the caravans are not reaching the northern (U.S.) border, because Mexico is taking care of them.”