United States President Donald Trump announced Thursday that imports from Mexico covered by the USMCA free trade pact will not be subject to U.S. tariffs until at least early April.
“After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement,” Trump said in a post to his Truth Social account.
“This Agreement is until April 2nd. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl,” he wrote.
“Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!”
Trump’s announcement came two days after the United States imposed 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico and most imports from Canada due to what the White House said was the two countries’ failure to adequately stem the flow of “lethal drugs” such as fentanyl into the U.S.
As of 11 a.m. Mexico City time, Trump had not announced a pause on U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt announced Wednesday that Trump had decided to give a one-month tariff exemption to automakers importing vehicles from Mexico and Canada.
Muchas gracias al presidente Donald Trump. Tuvimos una excelente y respetuosa llamada en la que coincidimos en que nuestro trabajo y colaboración han dado resultados sin precedentes, en el marco de respeto a nuestras soberanías. Continuaremos trabajando juntos, particularmente en… pic.twitter.com/JzD9jkm8tz
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) March 6, 2025
Sheinbaum shared Trump’s Truth Social post to her own social media accounts along with a message of appreciation for the U.S. president.
“Thank you very much to President Donald Trump. We had an excellent and respectful call during which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results within the framework of respect for our sovereignties,” she wrote.
“We will continue working together, particularly on the issues of migration and security, which include reducing the illegal crossing of fentanyl to the United States and weapons to Mexico. As President Trump mentions, Mexico won’t be required to pay tariffs on all products within the USMCA. This agreement is until April 2, when the United States will announce reciprocal tariffs for all countries,” Sheinbaum said.
The president subsequently told reporters at a (later than usual morning) press conference that “practically” all trade between Mexico and the United States occurs “within USMCA,” which stipulates rules including “rules of origin” that products must comply with in order to travel across borders in North America without being subject to tariffs.
Sheinbaum also said that “practically” all of Mexico’s imports from the United States enter the country tariff-free and therefore U.S. reciprocal tariffs will have a negligible impact on Mexico if any. However, the United States could choose to reimpose tariffs on Mexico if it deems that its actions against drugs and migrants are lacking.
Sheinbaum told reporters that during her call with Trump she presented United States Customs and Border Protection data on fentanyl seizures at the Mexico-U.S. border.
She highlighted that fentanyl seizures at the border — which can be as used as a proxy to estimate whether the amount of the opioid entering the United States is going up or down — declined 41.5% in February compared to January.
Sheinbaum said that Trump wasn’t aware of that statistic, and attributed it to the increase in fentanyl seizures in Mexico.
She said she presented other data on security results to Trump, including on arrests in Mexico, and highlighted Mexico’s cooperation with the United States in its decision to extradite 29 cartel figures to the U.S. last week.
Sheinbaum stressed that her agreement with Trump that will ward off tariffs for at least the next four weeks “benefits both countries.”
In the call with Trump, “we were treated with a lot of respect,” the president said, explaining that she used the word “we” because she represents the people of Mexico.
Sheinbaum said that “respect and dignity” have been the “characteristics” of all four calls she has had with Trump.
On Tuesday, the president said she would announce retaliatory “tariff and non-tariff” measures in response to the U.S. duties during a rally in Mexico City’s central square, the Zócalo, on Sunday.
For the time being at least those measures won’t be necessary.
On Thursday, Sheinbaum said “a festival” with live music to celebrate the deal with Trump would take place in the Zócalo on Sunday. In addition to the tariff agreement, she said she might also “speak about the judicial reform,” whose approval late last year paved the way for Mexico’s first ever judicial elections to be held this June.
Mexico News Daily
This is done like clockwork….. Trump creates a problem and then reverses it and then wants to be a hero. Everyone knows including Mexico’s President. She’s just playing along.😄
Yes, indeed.
Trump is like every politician. But you j is the funny thing is? Us Dems and Repubs fall for it.
She’s not just playing along. She is working hard to resolve problems at the border and showing respect in her relationship with the president.
I agree, Rob.
Through an anthropological science lens, we can examine Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum’s emergence as a significant leader:
Dr. Sheinbaum’s background as a physicist brings a crucial scientific methodology to governance – a perspective that values evidence, accuracy, and verifiable results. Her approach combines intellectual rigor with practical administrative experience, demonstrated during her successful tenure as Mexico City’s mayor.
Her scientific training is particularly relevant in today’s complex political landscape, where data-driven decision-making becomes increasingly important for addressing challenges like climate change, urban development, and social inequality. As a physicist, she understands the importance of objective analysis and the rejection of data manipulation – qualities essential for transparent governance.
In regional politics, her emergence represents a new type of leadership where technical expertise meets administrative capability. This combination positions Mexico to participate more effectively in international scientific and political dialogues, particularly in areas requiring technical understanding and evidence-based policymaking.
En Español:
Desde una perspectiva científica antropológica, podemos analizar el surgimiento de la Dra. Claudia Sheinbaum como líder significativa:
La formación de la Dra. Sheinbaum como física aporta una metodología científica crucial a la gobernanza – una perspectiva que valora la evidencia, la precisión y los resultados verificables. Su enfoque combina el rigor intelectual con la experiencia administrativa práctica, demostrada durante su exitosa gestión como alcaldesa de la Ciudad de México.
Su formación científica es particularmente relevante en el panorama político actual, donde la toma de decisiones basada en datos se vuelve cada vez más importante para abordar desafíos como el cambio climático, el desarrollo urbano y la desigualdad social. Como física, comprende la importancia del análisis objetivo y el rechazo a la manipulación de datos – cualidades esenciales para una gobernanza transparente.
En la política regional, su surgimiento representa un nuevo tipo de liderazgo donde la experiencia técnica se une a la capacidad administrativa. Esta combinación posiciona a México para participar más efectivamente en diálogos científicos y políticos internacionales, particularmente en áreas que requieren comprensión técnica y políticas basadas en evidencia.
“practically” all of Mexico’s imports from the United States enter the country tariff-free and therefore U.S. reciprocal tariffs will have a negligible impact on Mexico if any.
President Sheinbaum is just the leader Mexico needed at this time. I do not envy her role while I acknowledge her stamina, intelligence, and grace
Sheinbaum said that “respect and dignity” have been the “characteristics” of all four calls she has had with Trump.
This is very unusual and reflects extremely well on President Sheinbaum because virtually all of Trump’s Executive Orders have had the chief purpose of taking dignity away from the persons, peoples, or countries targeted
I agree. But, I recall that Trump & AMLO got along very well. I’m happy for all of that/this.
Yes, yes and yes to all three comments!
The human garage dump is respectful?
Miracles actually do occur.
Don’t start celebrating yet because Trump is delaying the tariffs until April 2. This is the LAST time Trump will , postpone or daly the tariffs. President Sheinbaum has 3 1/2 weeks to get ready for the bug impact that is coming to Mexico. Forget about the ‘RESPECT AND DIGNITY”, NOW COMES “REALITY” AND LOTS OF “HARDSHIP” TO THE PEOPLE. No body and not even Trump wants to remove dignity nor hurt the Mexican people, but there is no other “choice” left to negotiate on the coming “tariffs”. Everyone on both sides of the border are going to get hurt in one way or another. So don’t “praise” uour President yet. time will tel what will happen After April 2,2025. Only God know the answer and you can check with HIM because God is in “control” o”TIME” and everything else if you are a Christian and believe Jesus is the sin of God thought the Virgin Mary, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit to have Jesus. ( You know the rest of the story).
OPTIMA –
When speaking for God, please run your tirade through spellcheck.
I hope that it wasn’t a Freudian slip.
Look at the tariffs through this lens: Trump is punishing multinational US corporations that exported labor to low labor cost parts of the world. The US needs the return of manufacturing to correct massive trade deficit. The dude is not stupid, but he won’t tell you some of the real reasons of his moves. 😀
trump is addle brained. With unions and no infrastructure available for the supplies and service provided by new manufacturing, the US will not be able to reorganize at an affordable baseline. That is why these were outsourced – it was cheaper. The US consumer wants products at low prices. We have gotten used to it. We will not go bravely onward and accept the hardships involved in bringing expensive manufacturing back to the states. It may sound wonderful and america first, ra ra, but is a smokescreen for trump’s secondary play – make the billionaires and himself more money. This is the reason for all of his moves. The US citizen is not a big deal if they help him. And if he succeeds, he accomplishes his primary motive to Make Russia Great Again. It’s as simple as that.
That is what I personally experienced working for a US company with operations here in Mexico. The stock holders wanted more profits and the way to do it was move operations from the USA to Mexico. The US is too expensive.
The REAL reason if you follow the money is stock traders buy low when tarrifs threaten to tank the us economy… then sell high the next day he reverses. Do it again. Then do it again. Kinda too bad inly wealthy can “play” the stock market
His family and his bromancer are both heavily invested in China. He had 4 years previously to do what he claims that he’s doing now. All politicians are crooks and this one reeks of impeachment-felony moral turpitude.
Trump is playing Claudia like a fiddle. She has no long term strategy. If you want to stop getting jacked around by Trump every month, you need a strategy and a detailed set of tactics. Stop trying to please a tyrant.
I disagree. I didn’t know Trump even played the fiddle.:) But seriously…Claudia is strategic, planful, and diplomatic. Exactly the type of leader Mexico needs right now. She is a fine example of a true social democrat whose party was re-elected in a landslide because it delivers for the people. Other world leaders, in particular G-7 leaders, should watch and learn. Sounds like you should too.
She knows Trump is an incompetent, mad man, narcissistic, and to be repetitive a racist, tax cheat, rapist, and bully. I admire that the presidenta has the patience to deal with such a vile creature.
As anthropological scientists, let’s explain this in simpler terms:
Looking at farming history helps us understand why some countries grow more corn than others. Right now, the United States produces about 172 bushels of corn per acre, while Brazil produces 92 bushels, and Mexico produces much less. These differences show us where we can help each other improve.
The ancient Americans, especially groups like the Aztecs, knew a lot about farming. They developed smart techniques like planting corn, beans, and squash together (called the Three Sisters method). Today, we can combine these old, proven methods with modern farming technology to get better results.
Four countries – the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil – could work together to solve several big problems. First, countries that grow less corn could learn from those that grow more. Second, these countries could work together to stop illegal activities like drug trade and human trafficking, while still allowing good things like trade and cultural exchange to flow freely across borders.
Food security – making sure everyone has enough to eat – is really important for this partnership. Each country brings something special: the U.S. is great at growing corn, Canada knows how to farm in cold weather, and Mexico and Brazil have valuable traditional farming knowledge. Together, they could help feed more people and create jobs that keep people from turning to illegal activities.
To make this work, these countries need to create rules that:
Respect each country’s unique culture
Help farmers use both old and new farming methods
Keep borders secure while allowing legal trade
Fight against criminal activities
The United States can’t stand alone anymore – we need to work with other countries to keep our economy strong and help solve global problems. This means trading with other countries and sharing knowledge about farming and technology, while also working together to stop illegal activities that hurt everyone.
I am not an anthropological scientist but was raised by a farmer-educator who was a biologist. I am an environmentalist largely thanks to the pollutants dealt me. I abhor Frankencorn, its subversion of sovereignty, free enterprise, and biodiversity, and frankly having grown up on farms in Ohio and just back from those in Tabasco, I don’t believe the productivity statistics for which you lack qualification to provide. I also have an extensive background in politics and assure you that the U.S.A. is now with a serious diagnosis embarked upon creating, not solving, global problems.
The higher crop efficiency is driven by the greedy mass poisoning of the US population by saturating GMO crops with Glyphosate. Much rather have less crop per hectare, pay higher prices, than seeing my kids raise children with autism or other genetic defects.
Gracias, amigo. Es cierto.
A Party in the Zócalo! She sure knows how to stroke the Donald’s ego, and it’s exactly what he craves,
and is not getting from Canada. Good on her! Hopefully we can get this tariff nonsense behind us
and get on with life.
Sure, but Canada received the same one month reprieve, even though they immediately retaliated with their own tariffs and Trump openly despise Trudeau and visa-versa.
Pres. Sheinbaum is representing Mexico with capability & class. However, Trump is playing Mexico off against Canada via the best charm offensive he’s capable of with Sheinbaum. Divide & conquer. He simply cannot be trusted in any negotiations, such as his previous highly touted approval of the USMCA. A stronger alliance between Canada & Mexico could represent a far more formidable challenge to Trump’s tariff policies than either country can negotiate or launch alone.
Here is what is going to happen on April 2, the 25% tariffs are going to take affect and :kick-in” on all exports to the U.S. That’s it. No more delays on the tariffs. The big question for President Sheinbaum is “NOW WHAT?? Reality is going to take place as announced.