Mexican correspondent, BBC News
Announcing the decision to delay some tariffs to Mexico for another month, US President Donald Trump was in pain to praise his Mexican colleague, Claudia Sheinbaum.
“I did this as accommodation and out of respect for the President Sheinbaum,” Truth Social wrote on his website on social networks. “Our relationship was very good and we work together, together, on the border.”
The comments were opposed to the type of language he used for the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeauu, who is still called “Governor Trudeau”, while calling Canada “51. State”.
The word war – if it is not a store yet – continues between Canada and Trump’s administration with Prime Minister Trudeau, calling the overall policy of tariff “stupid” and US Treasury Minister, Scott Bessent, calling it “Numbskull” in return.
The difference in the tone between the US neighbors to the north and those in the south could hardly be striking.
Some, especially in Claudia Sheinbaum camp, see it as evidence of her skillful treatment with an unpredictable leader in the White House, one who made several bold statements about intention, only to be pushed or watered.
Certainly, from the very beginning, President Sheinbaum handed over a unique message: Mexicans should “stay calm” for Trump, she said, insisting that “colder heads prevail.”
In that sense it was so far, so good for the Mexican leader.
Twice, now, in two months, she was able to remove the imposition of a swollen 25% of tariffs on Mexican goods via Last-minute by phone invitation to President Trump-I was said to “have no room” for negotiations.
Her diplomacy testifies that Trump truly appreciates her tone, clarity and overall behavior in their interactions.
She refused to accept publicly that Mexico did not do enough of any of the main border questions that Trump requires the action of her neighbors: Fentanil trade and unfathominated immigration north.
On Thursday, the morning briefing began on Thursday, citing new figures of the US Customs and Border Protection Agency that shows that the seizures of the fantanil fell to 263 pounds, which is their lowest level in 3 years. Represents a drop of 75% in the last six months of its Presidency.
When the tariffs were avoided in February, Sheinbaum agreed to arrange 10,000 soldiers to the border of the US-Mexico.
Her administration also extradited (although they prefer the word “expelled”) 29 figure of drug cartel The US to face trial on charges from murder to money laundering, including top-notch drugs, Rafael Caro Quintero, which US authorities have sought since the mid-1980s.
These may have been the measures that Trump meant when he said that the two countries “worked together, together” on border security.
Furthermore, she often threw the ball in the direction of the US president.
Where did the guns from which the charts of the cartels, the rhetorically asking, openly urging the US to do more to suppress the flow of weapons to the south and solve his demand for illegal drugs. Medications can come from Latin America, she points out, but the market of their consumption in the US is largely.
Even when Trump’s administration recently marked six Mexican cartels as a “foreign terrorist organization”, she seemed to strengthen her hand.
This is because her administration is currently involved in a legal battle with US weapons manufacturers for negligence. If US weapons manufacturers allowed their products to reach terrorists, not mere criminals, Mexico could expand their lawsuit, she said, to include a new charges of “complicity” with terrorist groups.
Yet, while President Sheinbaum enjoys the strong beginning of its presidency – both in the country and in the eyes of the world – to treat Trump, it is worth emphasizing that these are early days in their bilateral relationship.
“I think she played a hand she worked pretty well,” said Mexican economist, Valeria Moy. “I’m not sure the time to celebrate is still. But I think she did what she can do, despite the threats of tariffs. There is little sense to make any from the trade war.”
The key to Sheinbaum’s success seems to have been refusing to give up unreasonable demands or things of actual importance, until they do not appear susceptible to or adhere to the request of the White House.
It’s not a light path to tread.
To some questions – the Mexican Bay that Trump renamed as American BayFor example – she can afford to stay above the conflict, knowing that most people around the world are unlikely to adopt his preferred terminology.
On others, especially tariffs, the roles are much greater; There is a danger that constant return and instability in this matter could push the Mexican economy into the recession.
The Mexican Peso weakened again during this last episode and, although Sheinbaum claims that the economy of the country is strong, the markets would obviously prefer a more reliable and solid relationship with the US. Mexico is still the biggest American shopping partner.
When I spoke with President Sheinbaum last year on the campaign trail, shortly before she made history, she became the first Mexico President, she said she would have no problem with the other Trump Presidency and that she would always “defend” what is right for Mexican – including millions living in the USA.
“We always have to defend our country and our sovereignty,” she told me.
With so much glitter between these three neighbors in recent days, it is easy to forget that Trump’s Presidency is still only six weeks.
The new relationship with the White House has a long way, and the USMac trade agreement should be negotiating next year. But certainly, in the middle of the whole political theater, Claudia Sheinbaum will be more satisfied than Justin Trudeauu as she started.
