Mexico to activate 'Plan B' against the US: What will they do against additional customs duties?

President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that she has given instructions for the implementation of Plan B regarding the US administration's decision to impose a 25 percent additional customs duty on goods imported from Mexico.

Responding comprehensively to US President Donald Trump on the X social media platform, Sheinbaum stated the following:

''One does not act through coercion, but through reason and law. I am instructing the Minister of Economy to implement Plan B, which includes tariffs and other economic measures, in order to protect Mexico's interests. We categorically reject the White House's slanderous attempt to portray the Mexican government as being in alliance with criminal organizations, as well as its intention to interfere in our territory.''

Regarding Trump's targeting of Mexico in his statements on organized crime groups, Sheinbaum added the following:

''If one is to speak of an alliance, it can only be the arms depots in the US that sell high-powered weapons to criminal groups, as the US Department of Justice itself revealed in January. In 4 months, our government has seized more than 40 tons of drugs, including 20 million doses of fentanyl. It has also detained more than ten thousand people linked to these groups.''

Criticizing Trump over "fentanyl," Sheinbaum continued:

''If the US government and its institutions truly wanted to address the serious problem of fentanyl consumption in their country, they could fight against drug sales on the streets of major cities and the money laundering caused by this illegal activity. As in Mexico, they could launch a comprehensive campaign to prevent the use of these drugs and protect young people. Drug use and distribution certainly exist in our country, but this is a serious public health issue that the US is not addressing. Furthermore, the root of the synthetic opioid crisis in the US stems from the indiscriminate prescription of such drugs approved by the FDA, as revealed in a lawsuit filed against a pharmaceutical company.''

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Mexican migrants have begun to be deported en masse with the start of Trump's term. Criticizing the treatment of Mexicans, Sheinbaum emphasized that migrants are 'not criminals' and 'should be treated humanely.'

EMPHASIS ON NOT SUBMITTING

Emphasizing that Mexico does not want to confront anyone, Sheinbaum had stated in her remarks earlier in the day that they are always ready for dialogue with the US but will not bow their heads.

Sheinbaum responded to Trump's accusations against Mexico with these words:

''Mexico does not want conflict; we base our approach on cooperation between neighboring countries. Mexico does not want fentanyl to reach the US, nor does it want it to go anywhere. Therefore, if the US wants to fight against criminal groups that engage in drug trafficking and produce violence, we must carry this out comprehensively, within the framework of the principles of shared responsibility, mutual trust, cooperation, and most importantly, respect for sovereignty. Yes to cooperation, no to submission.''

Calling on Trump to work together, Sheinbaum expressed the following:

''To this end, I propose to President Trump that we establish a joint working group with our best security and public health experts. Problems are not solved by imposing customs duties; they are solved through dialogue and cooperation, as we did in recent weeks with our Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the phenomenon of migration. In our case, we must address this within the framework of respect for human rights. Furthermore, the graph shared by President Trump on social media regarding the decrease in migration was prepared by my team, who are in constant communication with him.''

Underlining that they are equal to all nations of the world, Sheinbaum said, 'We are one and the same, government and people. There is no difference between us. This gives us great strength in the face of all kinds of difficulties and problems in our country, because we are together.'

The US administration had announced that an additional 25 percent customs duty was imposed on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on imports from China.

News Source: AA