Mexico City, January 29 (Reuters) - Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed skepticism about the United States imposing tariffs on Saturday as pledged by President Donald Trump but stated that her administration has a response plan ready if necessary.
The statement follows the threat of possible 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Trump has insisted on imposing tariffs if the two neighbors do not intensify efforts to manage migration and drug trafficking across their shared borders with the United States.
We don't anticipate it happening, Sheinbaum remarked during her routine morning press conference. And even if it does, we have a contingency plan.
In the unlikely scenario that the U.S. enforces tariffs on its largest trade partner on February 1, Mexico is willing to retaliate by imposing tariffs on the United States, according to two informed sources.
Initially, the retaliatory tariffs would exclude the automotive industry to safeguard Mexico's vital manufacturing sector, which is tightly linked with the U.S., the sources disclosed.
México is ready to apply retaliatory tariffs of 5%, 10%, 20%, a Mexican government official stated.
Nevertheless, ongoing dialogue is essential as both countries would bear the brunt, endangering jobs on both sides of the border, the sources emphasized.
Conversations between U.S. and Mexican officials have been ongoing since Trump's return to the White House on January 20, as Mexico aims to demonstrate its efforts in combating drug trafficking and northbound migration.
The probable retaliatory tariffs would likely target pork products, cheese, apples, grapes, potatoes, cranberries, Bourbon whiskey, as well as manufactured steel and aluminum, the sources revealed.
Mexico has singled out these products due to their significant impact on regions that heavily supported Trump, said a source familiar with the government's strategies.
Since assuming office, Sheinbaum has visited the U.S. border, detained a record 475,000 migrants from October to December, and accepted non-Mexican deportees from the United States.
Moreover, her administration has confiscated a record 1,100 kilograms of illicit fentanyl, implemented new tariffs on select Asian products, and seized counterfeit Chinese goods across various Mexican cities.
Mexico has cautioned that imposing tariffs on Mexican goods could raise prices for U.S. consumers.