Mexico, United States Launch Group to Protect Jobs from Tariffs

Mexico and the United States have launched a permanent binational working group to safeguard jobs and business operations on both sides of the border, as new US tariffs on Mexican imports are scheduled to take effect on Aug. 1, 2025.

The decision follows a high-level meeting held on July 11 in Washington, where a Mexican delegation, comprising officials from the Ministries of Economy, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Security and Energy, met with representatives from the US Departments of State, Commerce and Energy, the National Security Council, and the Office of the US Trade Representative.

The working group’s primary objective is to negotiate alternatives to the proposed 30% tariffs, which US President Donald Trump announced over the weekend. The tariffs are framed by the United States as a response to Mexico’s alleged inability to stop the trafficking of fentanyl into the country. 

In response to the announcement, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that a group of representatives from both Mexico and the United States is already working together to reach an agreement. However, she emphasized that the fight against drug trafficking is a shared responsibility between both countries. 

“We are doing our part; they must do theirs as well. We have consistently emphasized the need to control the flow of weapons from the United States to Mexico and the arrest of individuals involved in drug trafficking in the United States,” states Sheinbaum.

Meanwhile, Mexican officials call the measure unfair, warning that it can impact employment and business continuity. 

The development occurs amid broader shifts in US trade policy. In the same week, Trump threatened an additional 10% tariff on any country that aligns itself with BRICS, the economic bloc that now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, and the UAE, reports MBN.The bloc recently criticized protectionist trade measures during its summit in Rio de Janeiro, calling for greater multilateral cooperation.