Synopsis
In a firm reaction to Trump's 25% tariff on imports, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum announced countermeasures against US goods. She labeled allegations of ties to criminal groups as baseless and emphasized Mexico's commitment to sovereignty and cooperation while addressing the fentanyl crisis and US arms trade.Key Takeaways
- Claudia Sheinbaum imposes counter-tariffs on US goods.
- She rejects claims of ties with criminal organizations.
- Emphasizes Mexico's sovereignty and resistance to foreign interference.
- Reports significant drug seizures and arrests by Mexican authorities.
- Criticizes US response to the fentanyl crisis and pharmaceutical regulations.
Mexico City, Feb 2 (NationPress) In retaliation to the 25% tariff imposed on Mexican imports by former US President Donald Trump, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has declared counter-tariffs on American products, heightening the trade friction between the two countries.
Sheinbaum has dismissed claims from the White House that her administration has connections to criminal organizations, instead attributing the issue to US arms dealers who supply weapons to these illicit groups.
"If any alliances exist, they are within the United States arms industry, which provides high-powered firearms to these criminal organizations, as confirmed by the US Department of Justice in January this year," she claimed.
She firmly stated that Mexico will not tolerate any foreign interference. "We categorically reject the White House's unfounded accusations that the Mexican government collaborates with criminal organizations and any attempt to meddle in our national affairs," she stated.
Highlighting the significance of diplomacy, Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico favors cooperation rather than confrontation.
"We support collaboration among neighboring countries. Our initiatives should be grounded in shared responsibility, trust, and respect for sovereignty, which is non-negotiable. Coordination, yes; subordination, no," she shared on X.
In response to Trump's allegations regarding Mexico's inability to manage fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration, Sheinbaum emphasized her government's comprehensive anti-drug initiatives.
She reported that within just four months, Mexican law enforcement had seized over 40 tons of illegal drugs, including 20 million doses of fentanyl, and apprehended more than 10,000 individuals linked to drug cartels.
Sheinbaum criticized US authorities for their insufficient response to the fentanyl crisis, asserting that the epidemic is primarily a domestic challenge.
"If US agencies genuinely aimed to tackle fentanyl use in their country, they could dismantle street-level drug networks, which they fail to do, and disrupt the money laundering operations that support this illegal trade," she declared.
Furthermore, Sheinbaum pointed to the responsibility of American pharmaceutical companies in exacerbating the opioid crisis, citing regulatory failures.
"The synthetic opioid epidemic in the US stems from the indiscriminate prescription of these drugs, sanctioned by the FDA, as demonstrated by legal actions against pharmaceutical companies," she commented.
