Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum PardoTariff , has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s accusations regarding Mexico’s supposed ties to criminal organizations. She reaffirmed Mexico’s commitment to combating crime and drug trafficking and called for greater cooperation between the neighboring nations.
In response to the tariff announcement, Sheinbaum stressed, “Mexico does not want confrontation. We start with collaboration between neighboring countries. Mexico not only does not want fentanyl to reach the United States but anywhere.” Her comments came after President Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on goods from China, citing concerns about illegal immigration and drug trafficking, including fentanyl.
Sheinbaum dismissed the White House’s claims, asserting, “Problems are not resolved by imposing tariffs.” She emphasized the need for a joint effort to address criminal groups involved in drug trafficking, adding, “If the United States wants to combat criminal groups that traffic drugs and generate violence, we must work together in an integrated manner. This must be done with shared responsibility, mutual trust, collaboration, and, above all, respect for sovereignty, which is non-negotiable. Coordination, yes; subordination, no.”
She proposed establishing a working group consisting of top public health and security officials from both countries to tackle these issues. Sheinbaum added, “I propose to President Trump that we create a working group with our best public health and security teams. Problems are not resolved by imposing tariffs, but by talking and dialoguing, as we did in recent weeks with your State Department to address migration—always respecting human rights.”
Highlighting Mexico’s efforts to curb drug trafficking, Sheinbaum pointed to the seizure of over 40 tons of drugs and the arrest of thousands of individuals linked to criminal groups. “We categorically reject the White House’s slander against the Mexican government for having alliances with criminal organizations. If such an alliance exists anywhere, it is in the United States, where high-powered weapons are sold to criminal groups, as confirmed by the US Department of Justice in January,” Sheinbaum said.
She also referenced Mexico’s successes in combating drug smuggling, including the seizure of 20 million doses of fentanyl. “In four months, our government has seized more than 40 tons of drugs, including 20 million doses of fentanyl, and arrested more than 10,000 people linked to these criminal groups,” she stated.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced the tariffs on his social media platform, Truth Social, citing concerns over illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Trump took action under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), stressing the need to protect Americans and deliver on a campaign promise to address illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
