Trump Praises Mexico on Drugs, Migration, But Tariff Threat Persists
Trump praised Mexico's anti-drug/migration efforts, yet new tariffs loom (Apr 2). Ambassador nominee Johnson noted cooperation. Mexico's President Sheinbaum countered tariff justification with data showing reduced fentanyl flow. Mixed signals create uncertainty.
President Donald Trump recently lauded the Mexican government's stepped-up efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and migration, a note of praise that contrasts sharply with the administration's persistent threats of tariffs and historical criticism of its southern neighbor's border policies. The conflicting messages come as a key deadline approaches for potential new trade actions and as diplomatic appointments aim to shape the future of the complex U.S.-Mexico relationship.
Mr. Trump met on Tuesday, March 25th, with a group of ambassadorial nominees awaiting Senate confirmation or recently approved. Among them was Ron Johnson, selected as the potential U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. During his earlier confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Johnson had controversially suggested the possibility of military intervention to target drug cartels within Mexico.
However, speaking after the more recent meeting with the president, Mr. Johnson struck a more conciliatory tone regarding current bilateral cooperation. "I feel very encouraged by some of the conversations I have had with President (Claudia) Sheinbaum and by the increase and support we have seen from her government" on migration and combating drugs, Mr. Johnson stated.
This apparent acknowledgment of progress was echoed, albeit briefly, by President Trump himself, who noted that Mexico and Canada "have greatly intensified their efforts," according to the provided text.
Yet, this praise arrives just days before a significant deadline. April 2nd marks the potential unveiling of a package of reciprocal tariffs by the Trump administration, referred to in the source text with the unusual moniker 'EU Liberation Day' – likely indicating a date significant to U.S. trade policy adjustments rather than European affairs. This date also coincides with the expiration of a one-month pause on broader Trump administration tariffs.
The threat of tariffs is a familiar tool in the administration's dealings with Mexico. Previously, President Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on Mexico and Canada, justifying the move by arguing the neighboring countries were not doing enough to combat the flow of fentanyl and undocumented migrants across the U.S. border.
President Sheinbaum's government has actively pushed back against the premise that Mexico is not cooperating or that tariffs are warranted. During a call with President Trump on Thursday, March 6th, President Sheinbaum reportedly presented data indicating a significant decrease in illicit drug flows. According to the information she shared, fentanyl trafficking from Mexico to the United States fell by 41.5 percent between January and February of this year.
Furthermore, President Sheinbaum has publicly argued against the logic of reciprocal tariffs. "Given that Mexico does not apply any type of tariff to the United States, Trump would have no reason to include our country in reciprocal tariffs," she has stated, positioning potential U.S. action as unilateral and unjustified.
The mixed signals—praise for cooperation from both the President and his ambassadorial nominee juxtaposed with the imminent threat of economically damaging tariffs justified by alleged lack of cooperation—create significant uncertainty for businesses and policymakers on both sides of the border.
The context includes other diplomatic appointments mentioned in the meeting with Mr. Trump: Kevin Cabrera, designated for Panama, a country with which Mr. Trump has reportedly had friction over the Canal; and Pete Hoekstra, designated for Canada, a nation Mr. Trump has controversially suggested he wants to convert into the 51st U.S. state.
As the April 2nd deadline approaches, the focus remains on whether the Trump administration will follow through with new tariffs, potentially undermining the very cooperation its officials have recently acknowledged, or choose a path that reflects the diplomatic encouragement voiced by figures like Mr. Johnson and the counterarguments presented by President Sheinbaum.
