Sheinbaum explained actions on immigration and anti-drugs to Trump

Alonso Urrutia and Alma Muñoz

La Jornada Newspaper
Thursday, November 28, 2024, p. 3

A day after sending a letter setting out the government’s position regarding threats to impose 25 percent tariffs on Mexican exports to the United States, the head of the Executive, Claudia Sheinbaum, held a excellent conversation with the next president of the neighboring country to the north to address two central issues: migration and fentanyl trafficking.

Accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, the President made her call at 2 p.m. from her offices: We addressed the Mexican strategy on the phenomenon of migration and I shared that caravans are not arriving at the northern border because they are attended to in Mexicohe wrote on his social networks. We are talking about strengthening collaboration on security issues within the framework of our sovereignty and the campaign we are carrying out in the country to prevent the consumption of fentanyl..

Later, Trump published that the President had agreed to close the border, so Sheinbaum issued a second message in which, without explicitly referring to the Republican’s statement, he noted: I explained to him the comprehensive strategy that Mexico has followed to address the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights. Thanks to this, migrants and caravans are assisted before they reach the border. We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders, but to build bridges between governments and between peoples.

In a conference, Sheinbaum stated that If tariffs are imposed and we enter a process of raising tariffs It will be up to the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, to analyze the technical aspects to respond to this measure. He did not detail in which areas could be responded to with tariffs. He expressed his conviction that the T-MEC will be maintained. It helps the three economies and the three countries know it..

We are not crossing our arms

After Trump’s threat, the President stressed that in Mexico we are not crossing our armsbecause there is a plan. In its commercial relations, the country privileges exchanges with nations where there is a free trade agreement, especially the North American treaty, which has been beneficial for Mexico. That does not mean that there cannot be imports of products from other territories, and that we do not have our own plan..

Although he did not mention it in his message on social networks about the telephone conversation, in a conference he declared that the objective of a first approach with Trump was to agree on meetings between the Republican’s team and the Mexican government to address the crucial points on the agenda that precipitated the advertisement and its letter: migration, drug and arms trafficking. He hoped that these approaches will be made before January 20, when Trump will take office.

He pointed out that his government carries out comprehensive work around the migration phenomenon, serving those who arrive in Mexico. He gave as an example those who have managed a work visa through the CBP One system.

Sheinbaum assured that the caravan that Trump referred to in his announcement has already dispersed throughout the national territory and only those who have a formal request for CBP One are supported, driving them along appropriate routes.

In security you also have a strategy, Will there be collaboration? Yes; Will there be cooperation? Yes. Are we interested in the treaty? Of course, if it is part of what has developed in recent decades with our economy.

Regarding the deportations, he announced that they will present a diagnosis on the contributions of Mexicans to the US economy, because This idea that they are criminals is false.. He commented that The Day had published (in its yesterday’s edition) that without migrants the US gross domestic product would fall 3 percent.

He also alluded to expressions from the Chinese government questioning the politicization of trade relations, regarding which he said that Mexico has good trade with that nation. This does not nullify the decision to promote an import substitution program to strengthen national production chains.

Although he questioned some opposition positions inclined to Trump, he maintained that in general there is national unity in this situation, as demonstrated by the presence at the conference of the new Regional Economic Development and Relocation Advisory Council.