Trump Agrees to Pause Tariffs on Mexico for a Month After Talks with President Sheinbaum

Deal Includes Deployment of 10,000 Mexican Troops to Combat Fentanyl and Illegal Migration

Washington DC, February 4: In a significant diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump has agreed to pause tariffs on Mexican imports for one month following a discussion with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

As part of the temporary agreement, Mexico will deploy 10,000 National Guard soldiers to the US-Mexico border to curb fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration, while officials from both nations engage in high-level negotiations.

Trump Announces Tariff Suspension After ‘Friendly’ Talks

Announcing the decision on X (formerly Twitter), Trump called the discussion “very friendly” and emphasized Mexico’s commitment to strengthening border security.

“I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States. These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl and illegal migrants into our country,” Trump wrote.

“We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one-month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico. I look forward to participating in those negotiations with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a ‘deal’ between our two Countries,” he added.

Sheinbaum Confirms Agreement, Highlights Respect for Sovereignty

President Claudia Sheinbaum also confirmed the conversation and emphasized mutual respect in US-Mexico relations.

“We had a good conversation with President Trump with great respect for our relationship and sovereignty; we reached a series of agreements,” Sheinbaum wrote on X.

She outlined Mexico’s immediate action plan, which includes:

• Deploying 10,000 National Guard troops to combat drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl.
• Enhanced cooperation with the US to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons into Mexico.
• Starting bilateral negotiations on security and trade.

“Our teams will begin working today on two fronts: security and trade. They are pausing tariffs for one month from now,” Sheinbaum added.

What’s at Stake for Mexico?

The temporary suspension of tariffs is crucial for Mexico, as nearly 80% of its exports go to the US. Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs—which would have affected cars, avocados, fruit, and beer—could have severely impacted Mexico’s economy, according to Al Jazeera.

Trump had announced the tariff hike on Mexican imports on Saturday, arguing that it was necessary to hold Mexico and China accountable for their pledges to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking into the US.

With a one-month window for negotiations, both nations will now work toward a long-term resolution that balances trade relations and border security concerns.