US President-elect Donald Trump assured Wednesday that the Mexican president had agreed during a telephone exchange to “stop illegal immigration” to the United States. Claudia Sheinbaum, however, denied this shortly after.
Mexico’s position “is not to close the borders”, she responded to Donald Trump, who affirmed that she had “agreed to put an end to immigration through Mexico and towards the States -United, thus closing our southern border.
“Mexico will prevent people from traveling to our southern border, starting immediately,” continued Donald Trump in another message on his Truth Social platform, assuring that this measure would “go a long way to stopping the invasion illegal in the United States. He spoke of “a wonderful conversation with the new president of Mexico.”
“Excellent discussion”
These remarks were shortly afterwards contradicted by the Mexican president on the social network […] We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders, but to build bridges between governments and between peoples,” wrote Claudia Sheinbaum.
Earlier, the left-wing leader had specified that she had had an “excellent discussion” with the Republican on the subjects of security and immigration.
“We discussed the Mexican strategy facing the phenomenon of migration,” she said on X, specifying that she had indicated to her interlocutor “that the caravans [de migrants] do not reach the northern border [entre le pays et les Etats-Unis]because they are taken care of in Mexico.”
This phone call comes a few days after the Republican tribune threatened Mexico, Canada and China with a sharp increase in customs tariffs.
25% tax
The American president-elect confirmed Monday his desire to “impose customs duties of 25% on Mexico and Canada on all products entering the United States” from January 20, the day of his inauguration. “This tax will remain in effect until drugs, especially fentanyl, and all illegal immigrants stop this invasion of our country,” he added.
The Mexican currency, which fell to its lowest level in 28 months on Tuesday in reaction to these announcements, rebounded strongly on Wednesday.
Donald Trump, who campaigned in 2016 promising to build a wall along the Mexican border, hammered out violent rhetoric toward migrants throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, accusing them of poisoning American “blood.” . He promised to put an end to what he describes as an “invasion”.
The Mexican president said Wednesday that she had spoken with him about strengthening “collaboration on security issues” and a campaign in Mexico “to prevent the consumption of fentanyl.”
Donald Trump, for his part, discussed a discussion on “what can be done to stop the massive influx of drugs into the United States, as well as the use of these drugs by Americans.”
Threats of retaliation
Before this telephone call, the Mexican president had warned her future American counterpart of the consequences of her announcements: “It is not through threats or customs tariffs that you are going to stop the phenomenon of immigration, nor drug consumption in the United States,” she said in a letter.
Claudia Sheinbaum had threatened to in turn increase Mexican customs tariffs on American products, deploring that this trade war threatens competitiveness, inflation and employment in North America.
“I am sure that there will be an agreement with the United States and President Trump,” assured the president.
Mexico, more than 83% of whose exports go to the United States, is a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Canada (USMCA).
This article was automatically published. Sources: ats / afp
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