President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected Donald Trump’s claim that Mexico is “petrified” of drug cartels.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum also said that it is “very unlikely” that the former United States president will impose tariffs on cars or other products made in Mexico if he returns to the White House next January.
Trump said in an interview with Fox News that “Mexico is petrified of the cartels because they’ll take out a president in two minutes.” He also said that U.S. military strikes against Mexican cartels were “absolutely” still on the table.
Asked about the former remark, Sheinbaum said she didn’t agree with it.
“Mexico has made progress in reducing insecurity and we’re going to make more progress,” she said.
Sheinbaum said that under her leadership Mexico would continue to engage in high-level security dialogue with the United States, and that the two countries would “work together” on security issues such as drug and arms trafficking wherever they can.
“We’re going to do it, always defending [Mexico’s] sovereignty,” she said.
Sheinbaum dismisses Trump’s tariff threats
Trump said in March that he would impose a 100% tariff on cars manufactured in Mexico by Chinese companies, and asserted last week that the duty could go as high as 200%.
As things stand, Chinese companies make very few cars in Mexico, but large automakers such as BYD and Chery have plans to open plants here. Trump has also proposed imposing a 10% tariff on all products imported into the United States.
Sheinbaum, who will be sworn in as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1, said she considered U.S. tariffs on products made in Mexico “very unlikely.”
She noted that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, in a letter he sent to Trump this week, pointed out that if tariffs were imposed on vehicles and auto parts made in Mexico, consumers in the United States would face higher prices when buying a car “because the cost of production in Mexico is lower than the cost of production in the United States for a variety of reasons.”
What Trump says on the campaign trail is one thing and what he will actually do if re-elected is another, Sheinbaum said.
The president-elect said that both the Republican Party candidate and Kamala Harris, who appears almost certain to be the Democratic Party’s nominee, both know the importance of the USMCA free trade pact to North America as a region.
She said said she is “convinced” that whoever wins the presidential election in the United States, “the trade relationship between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada will continue because it benefits North America.”
“It benefits the three nations, it benefits the people of the three countries,” she said.
Sheinbaum to review Tesla’s decision to ‘pause’ Mexico plant
Sheinabaum also responded to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s statement on Tuesday that the electric vehicle manufacturer’s planned “gigafactory” project in Nuevo León is currently “paused” because of the possibility that Trump will impose tariffs on vehicles made in Mexico if he wins the Nov. 5 presidential election.
“We have to look at the issue of Tesla in Mexico. In reality, since the [gigafactory] announcement was made [in March 2023] until now there hasn’t been much progress,” she said.
“We have to look at whether the reason really is the [U.S.] election and what Trump said,” Sheinbaum said. “There could be other reasons,” she added.
López Obrador claimed Wednesday that Tesla “must have another business plan” if it is not planning to go ahead with the gigafactory project in Nuevo León.
“These companies often don’t produce but rather speculate; they make an announcement and do very well on the stock exchanges, the price of their shares goes up and production takes a back seat,” he said.
With reports from Expansión Política, Milenio and Bloomberg Línea
Wake up Claudia!!! The Cartels have already taken over Mexico and if they aren’t eradicated it’s going to be ugly. Mexico has donee nothing about Carttels they are terrified. Trump will eradicate Cartels for good of both countries at this point your permission is not needed
Or they will take care of Trump.
Much more likely.
In my opinion, a very sick thing to say.
Where there is a market, there will be a seller
. How about the US (and other nations) getting rid of their residents’ drug addictions?
I completely agree.
Well said !!!
Ahistorical. Let Trump discover what Calderon learned about his “firm hand” in dealing with the cartels. Nearly half a million dead and the cartels strengthened. It seems AMLO and the Biden administration have just—without bloodshed—taken out the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel. So much for Trump’s impotent bluff and bluster. Trump really is Calderon-light.
It’s the exportation of the Mexican mafias to other South American countries(Ecuador) that is scary. Along the coast of Ecuador, the mafias are the 4th branch of government. There is much cafe talk that this is true in parts of Mexico too.
You’re a funny guy. Sure cartels control parts of Mexico, but Trump won’t be elected, a criminal will NOT be elected as US President period. If there was that remote extraordinary reason that he did, his talk of having the military cross over and getting rid of cartels is all talk and illegal. He’s running to stay out of prison!!!
These comments by Claudia shows her lack of context with the real world. Insecurity in Mexico is rampant along with institutional corruption, if she can’t see it it means she is either naive or complicit.
Have no doubt that Trump will send forces to destroy the cartels, as well as, impose tariffs on all Chinese products masked as made in Mexico.
As it is said in Mexico: the leftist pueden decir misa, it will happen
Hopefully it will happen !!!
The cartels in Mexico are here to stay. Just like the gangs in the US are to stay.
Mexico Beach Fool: The cartels exist because of the bottomless market for drugs in the good old USA. And unfortunately the guns in Mexico are essentially all from the absolutely uncontrolled supply of them from that same old USA. At least Mexico is trying to deal with the drug issue, while the USA opposes any such action, regardless of how many school kids, concert attendees, and whatever other gatherings get hosed down by “state of the art” weapons whose only purpose is to kill people. You won’t find any serious hunters or protectors of their homes using those.
Right! The idea that US invasion of Mexico would solve this is pure idiocy.
Unfortunately, that’s typical of Trump and just another reason he should NEVER be President again.
Agree 100%.
Agree 💯
Dear sir, I don’t believe you know anything of American history the reason we have the second amendment was that the founding fathers understood history. Throughout history of people’s government has always are almost always became oppressive of the people’s rights. The only way to bring back the rights to the people is armed Rebellion. Not to mention at least a hundred times a day the armed citizen in the United States stops a vicious crime from being committed
There’s a “Trump trade” on the international financial markets ; long term interest rates are going UP as a result of Trumps stated policies : he will cause recession and reignite inflation (a seriously underperforming economy AND rising prices) We must all (US, Mexico, Europe and Asia) do our utmost to keep this fool out of the White House
Gringo Chris got it 100% correct. Biden understood that the border, gun control, and the US drug problem are not USA problems or Mexico problems, but rather joint USA/Mexico problems. All three can only be solved by good legislation (gun control); and mutual USA – Mexico cooperation. TRUMP blames Mexico because he can; lies are a way of life for him and many – certainly not all- MAGAs believe TRUMP’s lies without fact checking them.
Agreed!
Exactly!!
Everything sure was a lot better under the 4 years of Trump compared to these last 3.5 years. That’s what I’ll go by this Nov.
Although I certainly do not agree with the measures proposed by Mr. Trump, the denials of president-elect Sheinbaum about the influence of cartels in politics and the levels of insecurity in Mexico add to the suspicion of some level of collusion between her party and the same criminal groups. Unfortunately, the proverbial austrich putting her head in the sand. As for US-México trade, I tend to agree with her premise.
. . . let’s not lose sight of how Chinese “investments” have an underlying errosion of each & every economy even industry which accepts their “help” . . . Peru port city is a most recent example. Look into the continent of Africa and Chinese “investment” to understand the returns enjoyed by the host nations is being overwhelmed with the debt obligations due . . . oh, and how about how Chinese “honey” importation is destroying, if not destroyed, the local honey bee harvesting in Mexico . . . China is nobody’s “amigo” . . . Trump is targeting China, and China has shown it is targeting Mexico, South America . . . and buying up agricultural land in the USA . . .
Anybody who is not familiar with Mexico should know for an intervention into domestic affairs is the third rail. they have seen it, and they are still traumatized by it. Shit talking presidential candidates would be well advised to get brief on this matter.
Evidence of what I’m saying can be gained in Claudia statement containing the word sovereignty. This is my 49th year observing Mexico closely and each president is careful to say that same thing to give assurance to voters. The point is moot, IMO, because mango madness is shooting himself in the foot each day and will be be more concerned this time next year with staying out of jail rather than intervening in Mexico’s domestic affairs. Without cultist donations it doesn’t look very good for his prospects to remain on this side of the bars.
Amen!
John, don’t make the mistake of underestimating Trump.
I don’t understand her way of thinking. First China took away near all of the textile industry away from Mexico and other jobs. Mexico is rebounding and I am grateful of that. All China is doing is trying to do a round about to import into the US.
This current and the new President have their head in the sand about the Cartels. I feel so bad for the locals that have to keep their heads down and not complain of these thugs as they will destroy your family and anyone associated to you to get what they want and do.
Don’t be so naive and “wise-up” Claudia ,because becoming the president of Mexico ,is not the same job as being the “major “of Mexico City. Lot’s of major changes are coming your way that are going to impact the economy and the trade relationship between the US and Mexico. Don’t under “estimate Donald Trump, because it could “back-fire” on your relationship with the United States. Be very careful what “comments” you make about working with Donald Trump because “big changes are coming your way. For one thing, “all illegals” will be shipped back to Mexico and this is going to impact the economy and the poverty in a “big way”in Mexico. Trump is going to finish building the “WALL” and all China manufactured in Mexico are going to be “hit with big “tariffs”. Be careful what you report because 6 past presidents were unsuccessful in trying ti control the Mexican “cartels” and nothing has changed so far. The bottom line is that Mexican people are afraid of the cartels who still seem to be in control; corruption in the government and about their own live hood and prosperity of their families. Don’t dismiss Trump’s “tariff” threats because they are “real and are going to be appled in Mexico. Be careful with all your “comments “and of some of your facts of Trump you are assuming.
All your assumptions will not occur because Trump will not be elected and instead will head to prison, all a matter of time.
Claudia isn’t president, yet. She’s staying open to all types of policies that might be needed to deal with Trump or change the plans to improve security in Mexico. What I appreciate is that she’s not a blow hard like AMLO or Trump. She’s holding her cards and will play them when it’s her turn. This is a very intelligent person who has more innate political skills than all of us reading and writing to each other here. I appreciate reading the concerns of everyone and we all share many of them but let’s give her a chance and that means giving her time. She doesn’t need to react or come out with dramatic policy plans at this time. She’s just starting to work them with her staff that she just picked. Stay optimistic that this is the best side of the wall to be on, now and in the future