Mexico retaliates against new US tariffs

President Claudia Sheinbaum implements ‘Plan B’ to safeguard national interests

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum countered President Donald Trump’s accusations of Mexico’s failure to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking, blaming the US for fueling cartel violence through the flow of firearms into Mexico.

Sheinbaum’s response to Trump’s imposition of 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods included retaliatory tariffs on US products, announced late Saturday.

“We firmly reject the White House’s false accusations of Mexican government complicity with criminal organizations,” Sheinbaum declared on X. “If such alliances exist, they are found in US gun stores supplying these groups with high-powered weapons – a fact confirmed by the US Department of Justice.”

Her statement referenced a recent Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) report showing a significant number of military-grade weapons used by Mexican cartels originated in the US.

Sheinbaum highlighted her administration’s anti-narcotics successes, citing the seizure of over 40 tons of drugs, including 20 million fentanyl doses, and the arrest of over 10,000 individuals linked to organized crime in four months.

She criticized the US approach to the drug crisis, suggesting that genuine commitment from Washington would involve “a large-scale campaign to prevent drug use and support its youth, as Mexico has done.”

Trump’s new tariffs, effective February 4, impose a 25% duty on Mexican and Canadian goods and a 10% duty on Chinese imports. The US administration justifies this by citing concerns about illegal immigration and drug trafficking, especially fentanyl.

In response, Sheinbaum directed the Ministry of Economy to “implement Plan B, which includes tariff and non-tariff measures to protect Mexico’s interests.” Details remain undisclosed, but sources suggest targeted measures against key US industries, especially agriculture, while aiming to avoid escalation.

The Mexican president advocated for bilateral cooperation to address the drug crisis, emphasizing equal partnership.

”For the US to genuinely combat drug trafficking criminal groups and the violence they cause, we must collaborate comprehensively,” she stated. “But this must always be based on shared responsibility, mutual trust, collaboration, and, most importantly, respect for sovereignty, which is non-negotiable.”