Mexico Secures Further Extension from Trump on Tariff Deadline

 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that she had obtained an additional extension from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a threatened tariff increase, just days before the deadline for finalizing trade negotiations between the two countries.

Trump had warned of a 30 percent tariff on Mexican imports. The original 90-day period he set for reaching an agreement between the two North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners was set to expire this Thursday.

Sheinbaum revealed that during a telephone call with Trump on Saturday, the leaders agreed to “give it a few more weeks” to continue discussions on various trade barriers highlighted by Washington.

Dubbed the “Trump whisperer” for her success in navigating the U.S. president’s tariff threats, the left-leaning Sheinbaum told her regular morning news briefing that she plans to speak with Trump again “in a few weeks.”

Trump’s approach to Mexico contrasts sharply with his tougher stance toward Canada. Last Saturday, he announced a 10 percent increase in tariffs on Canadian goods in response to a Canadian anti-tariff advertisement featuring the late U.S. president Ronald Reagan.

Meanwhile, Sheinbaum reported last week that her administration was making “very good progress” in trade talks with Washington.

The discussions have focused on 54 non-tariff barriers, including restrictions affecting foreign companies in Mexico’s energy sector and regulatory challenges in agriculture, telecommunications, and intellectual property.

Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in South Korea this week, which Trump will also attend. Mexican officials anticipate that Ebrard may finalize certain agreements with U.S. counterparts during the summit.

Mexico is particularly vulnerable to Trump’s tariff threats, as over 80 percent of its exports are sent to the United States. Washington is seeking a renegotiation of the trade deal with Mexico and Canada, which is slated for review next year.

AFP