MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A month is more than enough time to reach an agreement with the U.S. before threatened tariffs are due to take effect, Mexico’s economy minister said on Tuesday, stressing the two countries were now on a more even playing-field as they come to the negotiating table.
U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened both Mexico and Canada with 25% tariffs, but pushed their roll-out back by a month on Monday in exchange for promises to fight drug trafficking and immigration.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had a call with Trump in which she convinced him to back down on the tariffs, Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard told journalists after meeting with ruling party legislators, adding that it was “a great political success” for Sheinbaum.
“This month is more than enough to reach an agreement on these issues,” Ebrard said.
The negotiating table is now “not as lop-sided as it would have been if they had already imposed tariffs on us,” Ebrard said.
Mexico began to deploy National Guard troops to the border on Tuesday as part of the deal agreed with Trump.
(Reporting by Kylie Madry; Editing by Sarah Morland and Rosalba O’Brien)
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