MEXICO CITY
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum hailed US President Donald Trump's decision to delay tariffs for another month, thanking him Thursday for showing respect to the Mexican people.
Trump announced on social media that the 25% tariff on Mexican exports would be put on hold until April 2 as "an accommodation and out of respect for President Sheinbaum," following a call between the two leaders and neighbors.
Sheinbaum, who had announced that she planned retaliatory taxes on US goods if Trump continued against Mexican exports, thanked Trump for respecting Mexicans.
"We were treated with a lot of respect, and I say 'we were' because I represent the people of Mexico," Sheinbaum said at a news conference at the National Palace in Mexico City.
She underscored that Trump's decision stemmed from mutual respect and her administration's efforts to hamper drug flows into the US.
During her call, she had to explain to Trump figures from his government that showed a decrease in fentanyl seizures in the US.
Data provided by Sheinbaum pulled from US Customs and Border Protection offices (CBP), show a decrease of 70% in fentanyl seizures in the US since October, when she began her term, and in February.
Sheinbaum showed a graph from US CBP showing that since Trump took office Jan. 20 to date, there has been a decrease of 40% in fentanyl seizes in the US.
"He didn't know this graphic until we sent it to him, and I also explained it to him," she said.
For now, Trump seems satisfied with his southern neighbor, but tariffs remain a looming threat as the US president has said overall reciprocal tariffs on trading partners will be revisited April 2.
Sheinbaum dismissed those concerns as Mexico would not impose tariffs on the US.
"The goal is that, since Mexico does not charge tariffs to the United States, the reciprocal relationship is that they also do not charge us tariffs. The trade agreement between Mexico, the United States, and Canada is respected," she said.