On April 25, American Community Media (ACoM) hosted a media briefing titled “U.S.-Mexico Relations and Diplomatic Models in the Trump Era,” spotlighting the foreign policy and leadership of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has so far succeeded in securing tariff exemptions and delays from the United States.
President Sheinbaum, speakers agreed, has consistently avoided immediate and aggressive responses to new U.S. tariff announcements, instead opting for a calm and pragmatic negotiation strategy that effectively defused potential conflicts.
For example, on February 3—one day before the U.S. was set to impose a 25 percent tariff on Mexican goods—Sheinbaum announced via her social media channels a plan to bolster security along Mexico’s northern border. She pledged to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, proactively addressing some of Trump’s key demands. In response, the U.S. agreed to delay the tariff measures and resumed high-level negotiations with Mexican officials.
Larry Rubin, president of the American Society of Mexico, stated, “President Sheinbaum has responded to U.S. demands with calm pragmatism and patience rather than emotional reactions. Recognizing that the two countries are each other’s largest trading partners, she has strategically reinforced this economic interdependence politically.”
Alberto Díaz-Cayeros, professor at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and former director of its Latin American Studies program, referenced a 1945 study by political economist Albert Hirschman on how nations can use their economic might to gain leverage in international politics. He argued that President Trump is leveraging tariffs to forge alliances and expand influence with neighboring countries.
In 2023, Mexico surpassed China as the U.S.’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade between the two countries reaching $840 billion in 2024, compared to $582 billion with China.
Still, just over 100 days into his second term, Trump is facing significant domestic backlash and record-low approval ratings as he attempts various policy shifts at home, with a new New York Times/Sienna Poll last week showing him with an overall 42 percent approval.
Luis Alvarado, a political analyst based in Los Angeles, remarked, “For Mexico, this diplomatic effort is about economic stability, immigration policy, and national pride. For the U.S., it’s about maintaining strong regional alliances without unnecessary friction. Both sides are building a pragmatic and strategic relationship that benefits them mutually.”
With the stabilization of U.S.-Mexico relations, experts predict conditions will improve, particularly along the border region and for companies operating in Mexico.
Díaz-Cayeros further pointed out, “Following the signing of NAFTA in 1994, there was a massive influx of U.S. investment into Mexico. Today, Mexico is evolving beyond a maquiladora (assembly-only) economy and is becoming competitive in advanced industries such as aerospace, high-end manufacturing, and medical devices.”
