The United States Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, has responded to the imposition of tariffs by the United States on Mexico, which will come into effect on March 4, as announced by Donald Trump. In this regard, he emphasized that this is not a trade war, but a response through tariff measures.
President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted the work done by her government in combating drug trafficking, achieving the seizure of more than one million fentanyl pills, 26.4 tons of cocaine, and the detention of thousands of people involved in criminal activities. Additionally, she stressed that U.S. authorities must address opioid consumption, which has become a serious health problem.
In light of the possible consequences of the imposed tariffs, Howard Lutnick stated that although short-term movements could be observed, the situation would be different in the long term. He left open the possibility of eliminating the tariffs if the countries demonstrate significant progress in the fight against fentanyl trafficking.
Donald Trump fulfilled his warning to impose tariffs of 25% on Mexico, China, and Canada. These new measures affect a large volume of imports and reflect the determination of the U.S. president to generate revenue through strong economic measures.
Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the U.S. tariffs against Mexico, calling them unjustified and emphasized the actions taken by Mexico in the fight against fentanyl. She considered the White House statement offensive and defamatory, categorically refuting it.
Howard Lutnick pointed out that the tariffs are not intended to restore trade relations but to save American lives. He stated that it is imperative to stop the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs to the United States, holding China, Mexico, and Canada accountable for facilitating this situation. In this sense, the objective of the tariff measures is to effectively combat the flow of illegal substances into the country.
