President-elect Donald Trump announced on Nov. 27 that he had a “very productive conversation” with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. He secured a commitment from Mexico to curb illegal migration and address the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.
The agreement comes after Trump’s recent threats to impose significant tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada to force cooperation on these pressing issues.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump praised the outcome of his discussion with Sheinbaum. “She has agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border,” he wrote.
Trump also highlighted plans to combat the inflow of fentanyl and emphasized the urgency of addressing drug consumption within the U.S.
Sheinbaum confirmed the conversation in a statementr on X, describing it as “excellent.” She explained Mexico’s current strategy to manage migration, which involves providing assistance to migrants and caravans before they reach the U.S. border. She reiterated that Mexico’s approach prioritizes human rights while fostering cooperation between the two nations.
Border and Tariff Negotiations
The dialogue between Trump and Sheinbaum follows Trump’s earlier warning of a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless both countries took decisive action to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
“This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” Trump declared on Monday.
In response, Sheinbaum indicated that while Mexico remains open to collaboration, her administration would retaliate with equivalent tariffs if Trump implemented his plan. “One tariff will follow another and so on, until we put our common businesses at risk,” she said, urging for dialogue over unilateral actions.
Despite this initial tension, the conversation between the two leaders appears to have eased some of the strain. Trump expressed optimism about Mexico’s role in tackling the challenges at the border and addressing the opioid crisis, calling their agreement a major step forward.
The Fentanyl Crisis
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, has been at the forefront of Trump’s campaign rhetoric. The drug, often smuggled into the U.S. via Mexico using precursor chemicals from China, has been linked to hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths.
Trump explained the importance of combating this epidemic, pledging to launch a large-scale awareness campaign on the dangers of fentanyl. “Millions of lives being so needlessly destroyed. By the time the Campaign is over, everyone will know how really bad the horror of this Drug is,” he wrote.
Sheinbaum acknowledged the severity of the issue and pointed out that Mexico does not produce synthetic drugs or weapons but is disproportionately affected by crime stemming from demand in the U.S. She also noted her administration’s efforts to collaborate on reducing fentanyl trafficking while maintaining Mexico’s sovereignty.
While the details of Mexico’s promised actions remain to be seen, Trump’s announcement marks a significant step in his ongoing efforts to secure the U.S. southern border and curb the flow of illicit drugs. The president-elect’s strong stance on tariffs and border security continues to resonate with his supporters as he prepares to take office.