Cynthia Ezegwu
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday that she has obtained a further extension from United States President Donald Trump on a planned tariff hike, just days before the expiry of a crucial trade negotiation deadline between both countries.
Trump had earlier threatened to impose 30 percent tariffs on Mexican imports if the two sides failed to reach a new trade deal within 90 days—a period set to end on Thursday.
Speaking at her regular morning news conference, Sheinbaum said she and Trump agreed during a telephone conversation on Saturday to extend the negotiations “for a few more weeks” to resolve a number of outstanding trade issues.
“We’re going to give it a few more weeks,” Sheinbaum said, adding that she expects to speak with Trump again soon to finalize discussions.
The talks, which center on 54 non-tariff barriers, include restrictions on foreign companies operating in Mexico’s energy sector, as well as regulatory challenges in agriculture, telecommunications, and intellectual property.
Sheinbaum, widely nicknamed the “Trump whisperer” for her diplomatic handling of the US leader’s tariff threats, said Mexico was making “very good progress” in resolving the disputes.
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Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in South Korea this week, where Trump will also be present. Mexican officials say Ebrard will use the opportunity to finalize several pending agreements with members of the Trump administration.
Mexico remains one of the countries most exposed to US tariffs, sending more than 80 percent of its exports across the border. The United States is also seeking major revisions to its trade deal with Mexico and Canada, which comes up for review next year.
Trump’s softer approach to Mexico contrasts with his recent decision to raise tariffs on Canadian goods by another 10 percent in retaliation for a Canadian anti-tariff campaign featuring the late US President Ronald Reagan.