MEXICO CITY - Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum says has secured a commitment from President Trump that his administration would place a greater emphasis on preventing high-powered weapons entering Mexico.
Sheinbaum said the commitment was made when she and her U.S. counterpart had a telephone conversation that led to Trump holding back on plans to impose a 25 percent duty on all imported goods from Mexico.
Trump has threatened tariffs as a way to get Mexico to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants and illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl into the United States.
"We had a good conversation with President Trump with a lot of respect for our relationship and sovereignty; we reached a series of agreements," Sheinbaum said on her X account.
Sheinbaum said Mexico will reinforce the northern border by deploying 10,000 National Guard troops. This pleased Trump a lot, according to news reports. But the U.S. will do its part to weaken the power of cartels in Mexico by working to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico, Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum takes the view that the U.S. and Mexico cannot security on their shared border without drastically reducing the movement of high-powered weapons and cash from the United States to Mexico-based cartels. She notes that 90 percent of all the weapons seized from cartels and gangs originated in the United States.
"It was a long conversation, we were talking about issues of common interest. I told him that we had been working together on migration (and) that there were results. We always based (Mexico’s policies) on respect for human rights," Sheinbaum said.
Trump had planned to start the 25 percent duty on all Mexican imports on Feb. 4. But following his telephone conversation with Sheinbaum he said he would hold off for a month while further negotiations take place between the two governments.
Sheinbaum made this speech in the run-up to tariffs being imposed:
“Good afternoon, everyone. As you are probably aware, yesterday the United States government imposed a 25 percent tariff on the products we export to their country. Keep in mind, it has been 30 years since this last happened because we have a free trade agreement. The most recent free trade agreement was signed by President López Obrador with President Trump himself.
“This 25 percent tariff measure has effects for both countries, but it has very serious consequences for the U.S. economy, as it will significantly increase the costs of all products exported from Mexico to the United States. They will have a 25 percent higher cost.
“According to these measures approved by the United States government, there are documents that support them, and one of the reasons for imposing this tariff is the fentanyl that enters from Mexico into the United States, which causes illness and overdose deaths. But even more irresponsible, terribly irresponsible, is that the White House issued a document stating that there are links between the Mexican government and organized crime.
“I want to share with you the statement I published on my social media yesterday. In it, I explain who truly has ties to these criminal groups and the real reason behind the overdose deaths of Americans. I also state that if they want to take action, they shouldn't focus on Mexico but on their own country, where they have done nothing to stop the illegal sale of this and other drugs.
“If such an alliance exists anywhere, it is in U.S. gun stores, which sell high-powered weapons, yes, high-powered weapons, exclusively for military use, to these criminal groups. This was proven, pay close attention, by the U.S. Department of Justice itself on January 8 of this year.
“Here is the document that was published on that date, where the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is part of the Department of Justice, pay close attention, acknowledged that 74 percent of the firearms used by organized crime in Mexico come illegally from their country's military industry.
“Our government has seized more than 40 tons of drugs in four months, including 20 million doses of fentanyl. It has also arrested over 10,000 people linked to these groups. We have a strategy, we address the causes, and we fight impunity. Every day, we work for the country's security.
“Now, if the United States government and its agencies wanted to address the severe fentanyl consumption in their country, why don't they start by fighting the sale of narcotics on the streets of their major cities? Or how is it that people with addictions buy this drug?
“Why have we never heard of arrests in the United States of U.S. criminal groups?
“How is it that the money laundering of criminal groups over there is not being investigated?
“Why don’t they put all their intelligence to work to detect the criminal groups selling fentanyl in their territory or other drugs?
“Well, they could also start a massive campaign to prevent the consumption of these drugs and take care of their youth, as we do in Mexico. The consumption and distribution of drugs are in their country, and that is also a public health issue that they have never addressed.
“Why don’t they ask themselves what the underlying reason is for such widespread drug consumption that has been ongoing in the United States for so long?
“Additionally, I mentioned it yesterday as well, look, the synthetic opioid epidemic in the United States originated from the indiscriminate prescription of such medications, which was authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, the so-called FDA, as shown by a lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company. There are TV series that explain this. In fact, the drug that caused the synthetic opioid consumption crisis is still being sold in their pharmacies with official authorization.
“I want to tell you, and this is very important, Mexico does not want confrontation. We start from the collaboration between neighboring countries. Mexico not only does not want fentanyl to reach the United States, but we do not want it to reach anywhere. Therefore, if the United States wants to fight criminal groups and wants us to do it together, we must work in an integrated manner, but always under principles:
* The principles of shared responsibility
* Mutual trust
* Collaboration
* Coordination yes, subordination no
“For this, yesterday, in my statement, I proposed to President Trump that we establish a strategy with our best teams, those in security and also those in public health. It is not through the imposition of tariffs that problems are resolved, but through talking and dialoguing, as we did. But I want to tell you this. We did it this way in recent weeks with the Department of State to address the migration phenomenon. In our case, always with respect for human rights. The graph that President Trump has been posting on his social media about the decrease in migration was created by none other than our team, which has been in constant communication with his.
“To our Mexican brothers and sisters, Mexicans in the United States, I want to tell you that here is your president and an entire nation to defend you. If you wish to return to Mexico, we welcome you with open arms. The people of Mexico are brave and have great dignity. It is the most wonderful people on Earth. I tell you that here is your president. We have courage and firmness, but always, as I have said on other occasions, we must act with a clear mind and love for the people. Nothing we do will affect the dignity and interests of the people of Mexico.
“I propose that we wait for President Trump's response to our proposal. And in tomorrow's morning briefing, in the people's morning briefing, I will inform you of the first measures of what we call Plan B. As Juárez used to say, ‘nothing by force, everything by reason and right.’ And between individuals, as between nations, respect for others’ rights is peace.”
Editor's Note: Here is a video recording of President Sheinbaum's remarks as President Trump was about to impose a 25 percent duty on all imports from Mexico:
