Mexico, US Near Agreement on 54 Trade Barriers: Sheinbaum

Mexico and the United States are nearing an agreement to resolve 54 non-tariff trade barriers, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday, following a weekend phone call with US President Donald Trump. The deal could be finalized within weeks, before the Nov. 1 deadline associated with potential new US tariffs.

“I spoke with President Trump on Saturday, and we agreed to give a few more weeks to close the issue, which is already very advanced,” Sheinbaum said during her daily morning press conference.

The negotiations, led on Mexico’s side by Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, aim to maintain Mexico’s preferential trade conditions once the current tariff extension expires. Discussions focus on easing regulatory and administrative barriers affecting exports in agriculture, manufacturing, and the automotive sector.

Sheinbaum clarified that her conversation with Trump centered exclusively on trade. “Migration and security were not discussed,” she said, noting there is already “a shared understanding” on those topics.

Separately, Sheinbaum recognized recent US efforts to curb arms trafficking into Mexico. Federal security officials reported that about 500 firearms were recently seized in US territory as part of bilateral operations.

“The coordination between both countries continues,” Sheinbaum said from the National Palace, stressing that defending national sovereignty remains a key priority for her administration. Her comments followed Trump’s claim that Mexico is “governed by drug cartels,” which Sheinbaum indirectly countered by highlighting progress in bilateral cooperation on trade and security.