Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed relief that her country was excluded from President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs announcement.
Mexico and Canada were spared from Trump’s sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs that he imposed on close to 200 nations. Sheinbaum credited the United States and Mexico’s “good relationship” as the reason her country was excluded.
“This has to do with the good relationship we have built between the Mexican and U.S. government, which is based on respect,” Sheinbaum said at a news conference Thursday.
“There are no additional tariffs to Mexico, and that is good for the country,” she added.
Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard is expected to visit the U.S. next week to meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, D.C. He noted that Mexico was one of the few countries exempt from the tariffs announced Wednesday.
“President Sheinbaum’s strategy has worked. We [Mexico] have preferential treatment,” Ebrard said, adding, “This is a major achievement.”
Since assuming office in January, Trump has gone back and forth on tariff threats against Canada and Mexico, which are the U.S.’s largest trading partners. Trump announced he would implement a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada but later backtracked and agreed to pause tariffs covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The North American neighbors still face a 25% tariff on all automobiles and car parts.
Nearly every nation included in Trump’s sweeping tariffs faces at least a 10% tariff starting Saturday, with some facing steeper duties. The president has framed these tariffs as “reciprocal” to match trade barriers that other countries impose on products from the U.S., dollar for dollar. However, in reality, they are based on trade deficits.
Some industries, including steel, aluminum, automobiles, and auto parts, are also exempt from the new tariffs. The “reciprocal tariffs” also excluded goods Trump has said will later face tariffs, including copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber. Imports of energy products, such as oil and gas, are also exempt, as are certain critical minerals that are not available in the U.S.
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Sheinbaum has said she is keeping a “cool head” approach to relations with the Trump administration. Last month, Trump praised Sheinbaum’s leadership.
“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,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, adding, “Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!”