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As the United States President Donald Trump, with 25 percent imports for imports from Mexico and Canada, were about to start, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau quickly pulled away.
At a press conference on Monday night, he referred to Trump as “Donald”, called the tariffs “a very stupid thing to do,” accused the US president of trying to maim the Canadian economy to annex the country and impose immediate revenge rates.
In contrast, Mexican President Claudia Shainbaum was silent on Monday night. She responded to a press conference on Tuesday morning, promising to defend Mexican interests and announce tariffs for US imports. But unlike Canada, Tit-Za-Ta Tariffs in Mexico will only come into force on Sunday, giving it time to make a deal with the United States.
On Thursday, Shainbaum is expected to talk to Trump to try to revive a compromise, even when the public spitting of the US President with Trudeau is intensifying.
So why is the President of Mexico approaching Trump's tariffs so different from how Canada and Trudeau handle them? How does Mexico respond to Shainbaum's strategy? How did we get here? And what is it?
What are Trump's tariffs and what is his justification?
Even before sworn in office for the second time in January, Trump announced that he would impose 25 percent tariffs on all Canada and Mexico goods, citing concerns about border security and drug trafficking, more special Fentanyl in the United States.
The United States is the second largest goods trader in the world after China, and Trump's rates have shook the global markets.
Initially, these tariffs were scheduled to come into force on February 4, but negotiations between Trump and Canada and Mexico leaders led to delayed imposition for a month.
In these negotiations, Trudeau and Shainbaum agreed to strengthen border security to prevent drug trafficking and the entry of migrants into the United States.
Trudeau has appointed a “fentanyl king” to deal with this issue. Shainbaum deployed 10,000 additional soldiers in the US -Mexico border to help limit improper immigration. Within Mexico, her law enforcement authorities destroyed bands with fentanyl, attacked laboratories and arrested. Last week, Mexico sent 29 drug leaders to the United States for prosecution.
However, on Tuesday, Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs affecting a wide range of goods. China was also imposed on additional tariffs.
The best three US trading partners – Mexico, Canada and China – represent more than 35 percent of the goods that the world's most imported imports or exports.
How did Canada answer?
Canada responded immediately and persistently to US tariffs with its own protective protectionist measures, which it first announced on February 1st.
As of Tuesday, Canada has imposed 25 percent tariffs on US goods worth $ 21 billion with the threat of tariffs for another $ 87 billion estimate, later, if the dispute continues.
Trudeau warned that Canada “would” not give way to the battle “and the rates would remain in place until the US rates are drawn.
Products, including meat, cereals, certain alcohol, clothing, shoes, motorcycles and cosmetics, are just some of the American goods that will be the subject of immediate tariffs, according to Canada of the Ministry of Finance of Canada.
Some Canadian provinces have taken their own steps, for example, the removal of all American alcohol from stores.
Trudeau, in Tuesday's comments, also seems to support the Canadians who choose to boycott American goods and to burst the US national anthem for sports events.
Trudo called Trump on Wednesday, but while the US president said he had ended with “somewhat” friendly “, he subsequently accused Canada of allowing fentany to enter the United States – although experts said only a small amount of opioid enters the United States across its northern border.
How did Mexico answer?
While Trump and Trudeau have exchanged heated personal remarks in recent weeks, Shainbaum has been using a more precious approach.
In her comments on Tuesday, Shainbaum expressed his intention to implement “tariffs and non -taryphs” to protect Mexico's interests, but refrains from immediate action, suggesting that it intends to first exhaust all diplomatic channels.
“What I can tell you is that this is a very final moment for Mexico. … there will be no submission. Mexico is a great country, and Mexicans are bold and durable, “she said.
If the tariffs continue, Mexico “will reach Canada and other nations,” Shainbaum said. She added that Mexico could seek other trading partners other than the US and could displace trade unions “if necessary”.
What is behind Shainbaum's relatively dimensioned approach?
At a briefing with reporters in early February, Shainbaum offered a look at his thinking, saying that against the backdrop of threats from Trump, Mexico had to keep a “cool head”.
This cautious strategy reflects Mexico's severe reading as a market: more than 75 percent of Mexico's exports go to his northern neighbor, so any dramatic disturbance in this equation can bleed the country's economy. Last year, the US imported $ 505.8 billion from Mexico and exported $ 334 billion, leading to a trade deficit of $ 171.8 billion.
To be sure, Canada also needs the United States to export: more than 70 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States.
But the context of Trump's tariffs for Mexico and Canada is completely different, said Najibula, Vice President of Research and Strategy in the Asia -Tihoetan Foundation of Canada, Al Jazeera told Al Jazee.
While Trump in the past has remembered the idea of bombing drug cartels in Mexico, many of which has identified his administration as “terrorist” organizations, it is much more resilient in searching for the territory of Canada.
Trump often says that his northern neighbor should become the 51st state of the United States and have repeatedly treated Trudeau, including after their call on Wednesday, as a governor, not as a Prime Minister.
“In the case of Canada, Trudeau noted that Trump's actions are aimed at mutilation of the Canadian economy to pave the way for possible annexation that goes beyond the ordinary trade war,” Najibula said, citing Trump's repeated threats to learn Canada.
“This is an existential struggle for Canada's sovereignty, so there is a strong incentive to press immediately and forcibly,” she said.
Commenting on the new tariffs, Trudeau said on Tuesday that Trump plans to cause “the overall collapse of the Canadian economy because this will facilitate annexation of us.”
“Revenge here is not just about Tit-tat Tariffs. It's about protecting the country's independence, “Najibula said.
In the meantime, Trump said he was respecting Shainbaum, something that the Mexican president pointed out while saying that she also respected the US President.
Shainbaum also has something that Trudeau doesn't: time.
Canada is quickly approaching the national elections, and the Liberal Party of Trudeau is catching up. After continuing the Conservative Opposition Party with double numbers for more than a year, the ruling party of the country began to Quickly close the gap As Trudeau goes back to Trump's moves and the US President's footsteps fell into a wave of patriotism among Canadians.
Shainbaum, on the other hand, took office only in October and is wildS In two polls in February, her approval estimate was 80 percent and 85 percent.
Does the Shainbaum approach work?
It's early to say.
But on Wednesday, the Trump administration released car manufacturers from 25 percent rates per month. While the supply chains of the sector are distributed in North America, Mexico is the largest beneficiary of the withdrawal. Cars, trucks, other vehicles and auto parts represent 27 percent of its exports to the United States. For Canada, this figure is 13 percent.
And Shainbaum enjoys more than just popular support in Mexico. Her approach to Trump and his tariffs seems to have the confidence of Mexican investors.
IPC, the main index of the country's stock exchange, is 6 percent since the beginning of the year. In contrast, the S&P/TSX, the Canadian Stock Exchange Index, is almost where it was at the beginning of the year.
What is next?
If the tariffs and avenging steps taken by US neighbors remain in force, businesses exporting goods and services will pay higher prices. The potential recession in some or the three countries in North America is possible.
Because tensions are simmering, there are signs that the US administration may consider a change in its position. US reports suggest that Trump is open to reduce 25 percent tariffs for Canada and Mexico goods.
But if Trump decides to de -escalate, Najibula said, “The damage from trust is already essential.”
“We saw him threaten new tariffs in April and continue to displace the goals. This level of unpredictability erodes confidence among allies and commercial partners, “she said.
Tariffs can also influence the negotiations for the renewal of the United States Agreement Mexico-Kanada (USMCA), a free trade pact, which came into force in 2020, was agreed by the Trump team during its first term and replaced the North America GAI DEPARTMENT. Conversations rather.
“How do you negotiate a stable agreement when a country is constantly changing the rules or imposing new rates without warning?” Najibula asked.
“Even if some tariffs are canceled or relieved, the bigger problem is that Canada and others now view the United States as a less reliable trading partner,” she added.
