{"id":252281,"date":"2025-03-05T14:14:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T14:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/05\/we-have-given-him-everything-trumps-tariffs-stun-mexico\/"},"modified":"2025-03-05T14:14:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T14:14:18","slug":"we-have-given-him-everything-trumps-tariffs-stun-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/05\/we-have-given-him-everything-trumps-tariffs-stun-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We Have Given Him Everything\u2019: Trump\u2019s Tariffs Stun Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2025\/03\/04\/multimedia\/04mexico-tariffs-ftmp\/04mexico-tariffs-ftmp-facebookJumbo.jpg?ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\u2018We Have Given Him Everything\u2019: Trump\u2019s Tariffs Stun Mexico\" title=\"\u2018We Have Given Him Everything\u2019: Trump\u2019s Tariffs Stun Mexico\" \/><\/div><p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-0\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Up to the last minute, Isaac Presburger, like a lot of other Mexican businessmen, still could not believe that President Trump would deliver on his promise to hit Mexico with tariffs. Little did it matter that Mr. Trump had announced that very day that he would go ahead with the planned taxes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cI am still incredulous,\u201d said Mr. Presburger, director of sales at Preslow, a family-run apparel business in Mexico. \u201cWe know by now that Trump pressures you so you give him what he wants. We have given him everything and he has not let loose of his grip.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">In response to Mr. Trump\u2019s threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Mexican products, Mexico made a major effort: Leaders agreed to send more than two dozen alleged cartel heads to be tried in the United States, a departure from the government\u2019s previous stance on extraditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-1\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">President Claudia Sheinbaum dispatched thousands of National Guard troops to the state of Sinaloa, the hub of fentanyl trafficking, where they seized vast amounts of the synthetic opioid and busted hundreds of laboratories. She sent thousands more to the U.S. border, contributing to a plunge in the number of illegal crossings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-2\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Ms. Sheinbaum bent further than anyone had expected to show the Trump administration that her government was serious about meeting U.S. demands, analysts say.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">And yet, in spite of it all, the tariffs struck after midnight on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">That has left people in Mexico\u2019s government, business and civil society reeling, but also feeling exasperated, even betrayed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cWe are emphatic,\u201d Ms. Sheinbaum said in a news conference on Tuesday morning, hours after Mr. Trump\u2019s tariffs took effect on its biggest trading partners, including Mexico and Canada. \u201cThere is no reason, justification or excuse that supports this decision that will affect our people and nations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">She ticked off what she described as her government\u2019s \u201csignificant actions\u201d against organized crime, and noted a 50 percent drop in fentanyl seizures between October and January at the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-3\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cWe have worked and delivered results on security matters,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The tariffs represent not just a rift in the fabric of two economies that have been deeply interwoven for decades, but a sudden departure from a relationship that had long been collaborative and from what many in Mexico expected would take place: a last-minute deal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-4\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Through late last week, a delegation from Mexico had been frantically negotiating with officials in Washington, and leaders had been projecting confidence. Even the financial markets held steady in Mexico.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mexico\u2019s economy minister, Marcelo Ebrard, <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/m_ebrard\/status\/1895542036264337569\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">posted<\/a> to social media on Friday, \u201cMexico and the United States have a great future working together,\u201d with three thumbs-up emojis. Business leaders across the country shared the same optimism until Monday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Jos\u00e9 de Jes\u00fas Rodr\u00edguez, president of Mexico City\u2019s chamber of commerce, said Mr. Trump\u2019s decision surprised him, particularly in light of the American leader\u2019s suggestion that he would not impose tariffs if Mexico produced results on migration and drug trafficking. The results it delivered included a barrage of high-level arrests and the handover of the 29 accused drug bosses that the U.S. government had long sought to get on its own soil.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-5\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">But Mr. Trump, whose criticism of Mexico had focused on illegal fentanyl, shifted his terms on Monday, saying that Canada and Mexico needed to relocate automotive factories and other manufacturing to the United States. \u201cWhat they have to do is build their car plants, frankly, and other things in the United States, in which case they have no tariffs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cIt is extremely disappointing and frustrating,\u201d Mr. Rodr\u00edguez said. \u201cThe United States broke their word, and it dictates the future of our commercial relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cIt\u2019s time for us to look to other regions,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-6\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Ms. Sheinbaum said she had a call scheduled with Mr. Trump for Thursday, and told reporters on Tuesday that if the tariffs remained in effect afterward, her government would go ahead with a number countermeasures, including retaliatory taxes, which would be announced on Sunday. Canada also announced reciprocal tariffs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cWe don\u2019t want to enter into a trade war,\u201d she said. \u201cThat only affects the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Ms. Sheinbaum\u2019s approval ratings in Mexico have soared, with many praising her coolheaded approach to handling Mr. Trump, who called her a \u201cwonderful woman.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-7\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">But the trade wars that are now underway will test not only that relationship but how much the government can insulate its economy and its population from chaos and pain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Presburger, the Preslow sales director, said that he still hoped the tariffs wouldn\u2019t last more than a few days, or that Mr. Trump would change his mind. Otherwise, \u201cit will be disastrous for Mexico.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The United States buys more than three quarters of Mexico\u2019s exports, and tariffs will hit manufacturing, agriculture and other businesses, immediately disrupting the supply chain and most likely raising the cost of Mexican goods sold in the United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-8\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Just hours before the tariffs went into effect, Manuel Sotelo, president of the association of transporters of Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez, said the uncertainty hovered over the many who truck goods into the United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-9\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">He said if tariffs applied to all Mexican products, they would affect everyone. But if they also applied to raw materials coming from businesses on the border, \u201cthen the situation is going to get worse for the region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">He said the transportation industry could not last even a week if trade were frozen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">When Mr. Trump hit Mexico with tariffs during his first term, it carried out a surgical response, targeting the retaliatory tariffs at products that were produced in Republican states considered part of Trump\u2019s base \u2014 such as Kentucky bourbon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The tariffs were lifted after about a year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Preparing for the worst, Mexican business owners and trade groups were already starting to scramble.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Antonio Lancaster, president of the council of industrial chambers of the state of Jalisco, one of the largest exporters of food and beverages \u2014 including tequila \u2014 to the United States, said the chambers\u2019 leaders were already in talks with the state and federal government about plans to bolster local production and pursue other export markets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cWe saw this coming, and this means we will pursue a rearrangement of our exports,\u201d Mr. Lancaster said. He added, \u201cWe will end up exporting to Europe, Asia or anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-10\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Businessmen like Mr. Lancaster argued that the tariffs will ultimately end up hurting American consumers as well as Mexican producers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cWe all lose here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Jes\u00fas Manuel Salayand\u00eda, coordinator of a business group on the border, said that corporate leaders mostly based in the United States, have been meeting to plan their response to the tariffs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cThey are analyzing whether they will move to Central America, to the southern part of the country, if they will return to the United States, or if they will automate or robotize certain production lines,\u201d he said. \u201cAll of that is being considered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Salayand\u00eda said that the Mexican government, perhaps expecting a last-minute deal, had not worked to prepare.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-11\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">They had been thinking, \u201cLet\u2019s wait for Trump to tell us what will happen,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they\u2019re not working on a plan to strengthen the domestic market or to offer incentives to the companies already here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Marcelo V\u00e1zquez, state delegate of the National Association of Importers and Exporters of the Mexican Republic in Chihuahua, said for the last few weeks some companies had workers on duty virtually around the clock to export goods into the United States before the tariffs came into effect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cBut that\u2019s just an aspirin for the headache; it doesn\u2019t really solve the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-798hid etfikam0\">Roc\u00edo Gallegos<!-- --> contributed reporting from Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez, Mexico.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/05\/world\/americas\/trump-mexico-tariffs-sheinbaum.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Up to the last minute, Isaac Presburger, like a lot of other Mexican businessmen, still could not believe that President Trump would deliver on his promise to hit Mexico with tariffs. Little did it matter that Mr. Trump had announced that very day that he would go ahead with the planned taxes. \u201cI am still [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":252282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2025\/03\/04\/multimedia\/04mexico-tariffs-ftmp\/04mexico-tariffs-ftmp-facebookJumbo.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[17375,165435,82966,163575,171453,164426,1296,164052,61721,40137,18165,52,1734,166932],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252281"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=252281"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":252283,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252281\/revisions\/252283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/252282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=252281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=252281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=252281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}