President Donald Trump announced today that he had a productive and amicable conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, resulting in an agreement to immediately deploy 10,000 Mexican soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border.
These troops will reportedly focus on stopping the flow of fentanyl and preventing illegal migration into the United States. The development comes during heightened tensions involving U.S. tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, which have sparked retaliatory measures from the affected nations.
On Saturday the United States imposed a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, alongside a 10% tariff on Chinese imports. Canada responded by levying 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods, stating that it had no choice but to act in defense of its national interests. Mexico, similarly, was evaluating tariffs on U.S. goods and considering additional non-tariff responses. Meanwhile, China has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization and is planning further countermeasures as it monitors the situation.
President Trump imposed the tariffs on imports in response to concerns about illegal immigration and the fentanyl crisis. The administration framed the action as a response to what it described as a national emergency, citing inadequate cooperation from foreign governments to curb illegal migration and the flow of deadly drugs into the United States.
The decision seeks to leverage the United States’ strong economic position to compel its trade partners to take more decisive actions against drug trafficking and illegal migration. Previous administrations were criticized for failing to use tariffs as a bargaining tool for national security, a gap Trump aims to close with these measures.
Despite the tensions, today’s agreement between the U.S. and Mexico has temporarily eased concerns, as Trump confirmed that planned tariffs on Mexican imports would be paused for a one-month period. During this time, high-level negotiations between the two nations will take place, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and senior Mexican officials.
Trump is scheduled to hold a call later today with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the current trade dispute and explore possible resolutions. The call is anticipated to address Canada’s retaliatory tariffs and seek a pathway to reducing tensions.