𝗠𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗖𝗢'𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗦~𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗, 𝗠𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗖𝗢 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦

 

Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum

Mexico City — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected the idea of meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump amid rising trade tensions between the two countries. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sheinbaum said ongoing disagreements over tariffs, particularly those recently imposed on Mexican tomatoes, make a face-to-face meeting unnecessary at this time.

“There’s no plan to meet with President Trump in the near future,” Sheinbaum said. “There’s an economic team currently handling negotiations in Washington, and the goal is to reach an agreement before August 1.”

Earlier this week, Trump announced a 17% tariff on fresh tomato imports from Mexico. He also revealed plans to impose a broader 30% tariff on goods from both Mexico and the European Union starting August 1,  a move that threatens two of the United States’ largest trading partnerships.

Sheinbaum expressed concern for the impact on Mexican tomato growers, many of whom are small producers. “This tariff will raise production costs significantly,” she said. “We’re working closely with farmers to offer them support and help safeguard their livelihoods.”

In response to the new U.S. trade barriers, the Mexican government is exploring alternative export markets. Sheinbaum mentioned Japan as a promising destination, noting that Mexico already exports tomatoes there and could increase shipments. She also pointed to Europe, especially Germany, as a potential market.

“We’re looking at expanding to Asia and the Pacific Rim,” she said. “We’re also evaluating opportunities in Europe, where demand for tomatoes is high.”

Negotiations between U.S. and Mexican officials are ongoing, with more meetings scheduled in the coming days.