The Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, warned this Friday that “it is not possible” to propose a strategy of tariffs on both Mexico and China, as the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, has threatened, without damaging the US economy, therefore that the country has a “strategic advantage” in negotiations with Washington.
This was indicated during his speech at the ‘Economic Perspectives Seminar 2025’ of the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM), by emphasizing that these measures would be counterproductive for the United States.
“You cannot at the same time take measures to decouple from China and be protectionist with Mexico. Structurally, it is not possible. We have discussed many of those who argue that it is possible and they end up conceding that it is not possible. That is going to be Mexico’s strategic advantage,” said Ebrard.
Read: Mexico is prepared to face the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump: Ebrard
In this sense, he asserted that tariffs on Mexico, its northern neighbor’s main trading partner, would increase inflation and slow growth in the United States.
“Is it compatible that in this new era of protectionism you have a very aggressive strategy with Mexico and China at the same time? At our point the calculation is that it is not possible. “You cannot have low inflation and sustainable growth in the United States if you are applying very strong protectionism in Mexico with respect to China,” Ebrard said.
Trump, who will take office on January 20, has announced that one of his first executive orders will be to impose 25% tariffs on “all products” from Mexico and Canada, until the invasion of migrants and drugs is “stopped.” , particularly fentanyl.
In this regard, President Claudia Sheinbaum has avoided direct confrontation with the American president-elect and has opted to highlight the benefits brought to both countries by the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (TMEC), in force since 2020 and whose review is planned. by 2026.
Read: Trump’s tariff threat prompts auto suppliers to rethink production plans
Finally, Ebrard downplayed Trump’s statements and pointed out that the bilateral relationship with the United States is “like a marriage.”
“Sometimes you have your differences, but in the end you move forward. The relationship between Mexico and the United States is already an old marriage, and we are going to take care of it,” he said.
With information from EFE
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