Mexico’s Response to Trump’s Tariffs: Troops, Cartels and China

On May 30th, 2019, President Trump announced his intention to impose tariffs on all Mexican goods in an attempt to pressure Mexico to do more to curb illegal immigration into the United States. The proposed tariffs, starting at 5% and potentially increasing to 25% by October, were met with swift and strong opposition from Mexico.

In response to Trump’s tariffs, Mexico immediately sent a delegation of top officials, including Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, to Washington to negotiate a solution. The Mexican government made it clear that they would not be bullied by the threat of tariffs and were willing to take action to protect their economy and their people.

One of the measures Mexico proposed was to deploy 6,000 National Guard troops to its southern border with Guatemala to help contain the flow of migrants heading towards the United States. This move was seen as a significant step towards addressing US concerns about illegal immigration and showed that Mexico was serious about finding a solution to the issue.

In addition to deploying troops, Mexico also sought to crack down on organized crime and drug cartels, which have been a major source of violence and instability in the country. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has made it a priority to address these issues and has pledged to reduce crime and improve security in Mexico. By taking action against cartels, Mexico hopes to show the US that they are committed to fighting illegal activities that contribute to the flow of migrants across the border.

Furthermore, Mexico has also been looking to diversify its trade relationships in response to Trump’s tariffs. In recent years, China has become an important trading partner for Mexico, and the Mexican government is exploring ways to strengthen this relationship further. By expanding trade with China, Mexico hopes to lessen its dependence on the US market and reduce the impact of Trump’s tariffs on its economy.

Overall, Mexico’s response to Trump’s tariffs has been swift and decisive. By deploying troops to its border, cracking down on cartels, and seeking to strengthen trade relationships with other countries, Mexico is showing that it will not be bullied into submission. The Mexican government is committed to finding a solution to the issue of illegal immigration, but they will not do so at the expense of their own economy and sovereignty.