Ebrard proposes “cold blood and intelligence” in the face of Trump’s threats

Braulio Carbajal, Emir Olivares and Néstor Jiménez

La Jornada Newspaper
Friday, November 8, 2024, p. 4

Mexico must have cold blood and intelligence to negotiate with Donald Trump, the next president of the United States, and although it is not easy, the relationship will be good, said this Thursday Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Economy, who will be in charge of addressing the review of the Mexico, United States and Canada Treaty (T-MEC) in 2026, in a context in which the Republican has threatened to impose strong tariffs on our country.

I’m optimistic. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, because nothing is easy, but the relationship with President Trump is going to be very good, with his government too.said the official, after participating early yesterday in the private annual meeting of the National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores.

In the afternoon, after meeting with President Claudia Sheinbaum, the Secretary of Economy assured that the Mexican government will face with cold blood and intelligence Trump’s threats.

After the telephone conversation between the President and the future US president, Ebrard ruled out a confrontation with the Trump government and stressed that the Mexican president’s team had been prepared for this scenario for months.

Ebrard explained that his optimism is based on recent reports from the United States Census Bureau very good for Mexicoaccording to which our country is the first trading partner of the northern neighbor, according to the sum of exports and imports.

Mexico is the country that sells the most to the United States, and – as the second buyer – is about to surpass Canada in imports.

As a second relevant fact, Ebrard pointed out, is the fact that in more than 20 years, since 2002, Mexico had not managed to be the largest supplier to the United States, which placed it ahead of Asian countries, especially China. .

This year, exports from Mexico to the United States have a growth of 6.5 percent, which is very relevant. How many countries would like to have that?he also explained.

In addition, our imports from the United States grew 4.7 percent, which speaks of a very vigorous economy and a great opportunity for our country. That is the basis of the relationship with the new government that President Trump is going to lead, that is, this is the result of a treaty that was negotiated between Mexico and him and it has been the best deal that the two countries have done.he pointed out.

Regarding Trump’s threats to impose high tariffs on Mexico, Ebrard pointed out that it is not a good idea for the neighboring country, given that such a quota would have a direct impact on his own country: We import many things from the United States. We integrate them and then that goes to the market in the United States. If you put a tariff on it, the consumer there would have to pay more.

On the other hand, he said that he will try to meet with Elon Musk soon to find out his position on the electric vehicle company Tesla’s project to build a plant in Nuevo León.