President-elect Donald Trump is claiming a victory against illegal immigration after discussing measures with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum that he believes will effectively close the southern border. However, Sheinbaum’s response was that Mexico’s stance is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and their people. The two leaders spoke after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico, their biggest trading partner. Trump stated that Sheinbaum agreed to stop migration through Mexico into the U.S., while Sheinbaum mentioned discussing measures to prevent migrants from reaching the border.
Despite Trump’s threat of a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico, Sheinbaum stated that they did not discuss this during their call and that they will continue to have conversations. Both leaders described the call as productive, but the possibility of a trade war between the two nations could have major economic consequences. Sheinbaum warned about the risks of tariffs for companies shared between the U.S. and Mexico.
Trump’s campaign promise of closing the southern border to migrants and stopping the flow of drugs, specifically fentanyl, was a key topic in the discussion. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, caused a significant number of overdose deaths in the U.S. last year. The conversation between Trump and Sheinbaum highlights the complex relationship between the U.S. and Mexico regarding immigration, trade, and security issues.
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