President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday night that he had a “very productive conversation” with Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum, who agreed to end the flow of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. through the southern border.
“She has agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding they also discussed the “massive drug inflow” into the U.S. and the American consumption of fentanyl smuggled by illegal immigrants and supplied by Mexican cartels. “It was a very productive conversation!” he concluded.
The pair’s friendly dialogue came after Trump threatened on Monday to impose 25 percent tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada until both countries help the U.S. limit the flow of illegal immigration and trafficking of fentanyl. The plan prompted Sheinbaum on Tuesday to float retaliatory tariffs if Trump followed through on his 25 percent tariffs of all Mexican goods.
Earlier Wednesday, Sheinbaum doubled down on Mexico’s potential response. “If there are U.S. tariffs, Mexico would also raise tariffs,” she said. The Mexican leftist cautioned her move could kill 400,000 jobs in the U.S. and drive up prices for American consumers.
“It’s a shot in the foot,” Mexican economy secretary Marcelo Ebrard said of Trump’s proposed tariffs. Furthermore, Ebrard warned the tariffs would effectively double taxes for U.S. companies based in Mexico.
Sheinbaum also said she had an “excellent conversation” with Trump on Wednesday, making it appear tensions between the two leaders have eased.
“We discussed Mexico’s strategy on the migration phenomenon, and I shared that caravans are not arriving at the northern border because they are being taken care of in Mexico,” Sheinbaum wrote. She did not mention any plan to close the border.
“We also discussed strengthening collaboration on security issues within the framework of our sovereignty and the campaign we are carrying out in the country to prevent the consumption of fentanyl,” she added.
Trump also vowed to place an additional 10 percent tariff on all imports from China until it helps mitigate the spread of fentanyl. Mexico and China are the primary sources of fentanyl and fentanyl-precursor chemicals being trafficked into the U.S.
The former president won the election in large part due to his tough stance on illegal immigration. Once inaugurated on January 20, he plans to enact the largest deportation operation in U.S. history with the help of his border czar Tom Homan, assuming the former ICE director’s nomination is approved by the Senate.
In a follow-up Truth Social post, Trump indicated Sheinbaum’s agreement to stop immigrants from entering the U.S. at the southern border is now in effect.
“Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately,” he wrote. “THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD STOPPING THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF THE USA. Thank you!!!”
The incoming president also announced he is “working on working on a large scale United States Advertising Campaign,” explaining the dangers of fentanyl consumption.
“Millions of lives being so needlessly destroyed,” Trump said. “By the time the Campaign is over, everyone will know how really bad the horror of this Drug is.”