Ildefonso Guajardo, former Secretary of Economy of Mexico, revealed that in response to tariff threats from Donald Trump, the government had prepared a list of American products to tax. Guajardo stated that this strategy could be successful for Claudia Sheinbaum's government, targeting Republican voters as a key point.
In contrast to López Obrador's approach in 2019, when Trump threatened tariffs of 5%, Guajardo praised the firmer stance taken by Sheinbaum against recent tariff threats. He suggested that the key to confronting Trump is to impact his voters, especially those who supported the president's election.
Guajardo emphasized the importance of keeping Trump's voters satisfied ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in the United States, stating that they will define the course of his mandate. He also forecasted that Trump would seek to toughen the automotive rules of origin in the USMCA, pressing on aspects where he failed to impose himself during the original negotiation.
The former official expressed concern about the radical stance of trade advisor Peter Navarro, who has proposed increasing the regional content in manufactured products in North America to 100%. Guajardo lamented the lack of experience and rationality that, in his opinion, Robert Lighthizer brought to Trump's team.
