Sheinbaum Receives Praise for Securing US Tariff Suspension

Some analysts praise President Claudia Sheinbaum’s strategic and cautious handling of US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Sheimbaum secured a nearly month-long suspension of US tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada under the USMCA.

The agreement, reached on March 6, followed a phone call between Sheinbaum and Trump just two days after the 25% tariffs were set to take effect. Sheinbaum expressed confidence that Mexico could avoid additional tariffs scheduled for April 2, citing a reciprocal relationship, although she acknowledged that the situation could shift based on Trump’s decisions.

"President Sheinbaum and her negotiating team should be recognized for this achievement. What they have accomplished is significant. Mexico made the right choice by withholding its strategies," says Oscar Ocampo, Analyst, Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO). The Mexican Business Coordinating Council (CCE) also praised her leadership, stating, "their coordination has been essential in safeguarding Mexico’s interests. We reaffirm our support for the Mexican private sector because #UnitedWeAreStronger."

Ocampo says that Mexico made the correct decision from the outset, unlike Canada, which quickly announced retaliatory measures. Adriana García, Coordinator, Economic Analysis for the NGO Mexico, ¿cómo vamos?, says that Sheinbaum’s actions "allowed Mexico to respond more rationally, aligning its actions with evolving circumstances. It also prevented the issue from becoming a media confrontation that could have harmed Mexico’s competitiveness."

While the tariff suspension provides Mexico with additional time, Salvador Camarena, Political Analyst, tells CNN that "the threat has not been fully resolved," pointing to the concessions Mexico has made, including the extradition of 29 drug traffickers. "How long will the United States be satisfied? We do not know," he adds.

With tariffs still on the table, Mexican officials are scheduled to meet with their US counterparts this week to discuss the future of steel and aluminum imports, as Trump anticipates a 25% tariff on both commodities starting March 12.