Trump’s 30% Tariff Threat Stuns Mexico Despite Months of Cooperation

President Trump's abrupt threat to impose a 30% tariff on Mexico has caught officials off guard, despite ongoing bilateral efforts to combat drug trafficking. The move, announced via a sharply worded letter, accuses Mexico of insufficient action against cartels. Senior Mexican officials had been engaged in frequent discussions with Washington, emphasizing progress in border security and narcotics interdiction.

Mexico's response has been measured but firm. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm while underscoring her government's operational gains—increased extraditions, seizures along smuggling routes, and heightened surveillance in cartel strongholds. Behind the scenes, however, frustration simmers among negotiators who feel their cooperation has been dismissed without tangible assurances.