Former Secretary of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo, explained that the key to countering the tariffs proposed by Trump lies with the Republican voters, the president's main support base. During the EF Meet Point Virtual, Guajardo pointed out that Mexico had prepared a list of American products to impose tariffs on in response to Trump's tariff threats, but it was not necessary to implement it since the U.S. president did not follow through on his threats.
In the event that Trump ultimately decides to impose a 25 percent tariff on Mexico, Guajardo believes that Claudia Sheinbaum's government should respond with strategic tariff measures to affect the Republican voter base, which would be an effective strategy. Guajardo emphasized that Mexico's response must hit where it hurts the U.S. president the most.
The former Secretary of Economy highlighted the importance of keeping Republican voters satisfied, as the midterm elections in 2026 will define the remainder of Trump's term. In this regard, Guajardo recommended that Sheinbaum direct countermeasures primarily toward sectors such as corn, pork, cheese producers, and others predominantly Republican, who could be the first to feel let down.
Guajardo praised President Sheinbaum's attitude towards Trump's tariff threats, highlighting her restraint and the effectiveness with which she has addressed the situation. Unlike AMLO's response in 2019 to similar threats, Guajardo considered that Sheinbaum has managed the situation appropriately and prudently, avoiding unnecessary confrontations with Trump.
