Mexico City – Mexico Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard On Tuesday he said he will meet with Trump administration officials in Washington on Thursday in what he called “the first conversation” in a series of negotiations between the two countries.
The meeting arrives at a fragile moment for the two neighbors, whose bilateral trade exceeded $ 800 billion last year. President of the United States Donald Trump He has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico, although so far limited them to steel and aluminum, and signed an executive order to change the name The Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
“At our first meeting, we will clarify the proposals presented by the United States, and what the new administration aims to achieve,” Ebrard told journalists on Tuesday. “Then we will put Mexico’s arguments on the table, particularly those about the (economic) integration between the two nations.”
Ebrard said he would meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick And several Trump officials in a conversation that would focus on steel and aluminum tariffs, as well as the importance of the country’s bilateral commercial relationship. Ebrard added that he expected to make a range of other proposals to “improve” the existing commercial relationship.
Meanwhile, Trump’s broader tariff threat It is coming, something that analysts say that a recession could trigger in Mexico. The imposition of broader tariffs would probably begin a commercial war, with President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Promisores reciprocal rates, which would result in price increases for US consumers.
While Mexico has tried to diversify their commercial relations, economists say that decades of free trade and geographical proximity limit their ability to make significant short -term changes.
Ebrard on Tuesday seemed determined to avoid a escalation.
“Our answer will never be resent or conflict, but a continuous effort to advance,” said Ebrard.
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