Background on Claudia Sheinbaum and Her Role
Claudia Sheinbaum is the Head of Government, equivalent to Mayor, of Mexico City. As one of the most prominent figures in Mexican politics, she has been actively involved in addressing various challenges facing the city and its residents. Her recent focus includes evaluating the impact of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on steel and aluminum imports.
Meeting with Business Leaders
On the afternoon of this Wednesday, Claudia Sheinbaum held a virtual meeting with business leaders from the steel and aluminum industries to assess the impacts and potential countermeasures against the 50% tariffs imposed by the United States.
Sheinbaum emphasized, “Our responsibility is to protect jobs,” in a message posted through her X (formerly Twitter) social media account.
The meeting also included the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, and the Secretary of Finance, Edgar Amador Zamora.
Trump’s Tariff Decision
The day before the meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%. Trump determined that this adjustment was necessary to regulate imports and prevent any threat to the U.S. national security.
During her morning conference, Sheinbaum described Trump’s measure as “unjust and lacking legal grounds” within the framework of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (T-MEC). She also warned that her administration would take protective measures for employment and the national industry if a bilateral agreement is not reached.
From her perspective, the measure lacks legal justification within T-MEC and is contrary to the commercial reality between both nations. “Mexico imports more than it exports in steel and aluminum. Therefore, if there’s a deficit, there should not be any penalty,” Sheinbaum explained.
Sheinbaum anticipated that on Friday, Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard would meet with his U.S. counterparts to explore possible solutions.
In the event of failing to reach an agreement, Sheinbaum warned that “next week we will also be announcing some measures that we will be taking, not an eye for an eye, but to protect our industry and jobs.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue being addressed? The impact of 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports imposed by the United States under President Donald Trump.
- Who is Claudia Sheinbaum? Sheinbaum is the Head of Government of Mexico City, equivalent to Mayor, and a significant figure in Mexican politics.
- What measures is Sheinbaum’s administration considering? If a bilateral agreement isn’t reached, Sheinbaum hinted at taking protective measures for Mexican industry and jobs.
- Why does Sheinbaum consider Trump’s tariffs unjust? Sheinbaum argues that the tariffs lack legal grounds within T-MEC and are contrary to the commercial reality between Mexico and the U.S.
