Mexico's Sheinbaum backs USMCA, open to direct Trump talks on tariffs
Synopsis
With Trump publicly questioning whether the US needs Canada or Mexico, President Sheinbaum is pushing back — invoking the fact that Trump himself signed the USMCA and calling for a regional, not US-only, definition of North American manufacturing. Her willingness to seek a direct presidential meeting signals how high the stakes are for Mexico's export economy.
Key Takeaways
President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed Mexico's support for the USMCA at her 16 June press conference in Mexico City .
She said she is willing to hold direct talks with President Donald Trump if needed to advance the treaty's review.
Mexico is seeking reductions in US tariffs on steel, aluminium, and automobiles as part of the formal review process.
A core dispute centres on whether USMCA-eligible goods must be made on US soil or anywhere in the North American region .
Mexico's negotiating team is led by Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard .
Sheinbaum also pledged continued humanitarian aid to Cuba , citing solidarity amid the US blockade.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday, 16 June voiced firm support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and said she is prepared to engage directly with US President Donald Trump if bilateral talks are needed to advance the trade deal's review. Her remarks were made during her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City.
Sheinbaum's Case for the USMCA
'The treaty benefits all three countries. The first treaty had its problems for the United States. This second treaty was signed by President Trump himself,' Sheinbaum told reporters, pointing to the agreement's bipartisan legitimacy across all three signatory nations. She underscored that the USMCA was ratified not just by the US executive but by the United States Congress, the Mexican Congress, and Canada as well — making it, in her framing, a legally binding regional compact rather than a discretionary arrangement.
Key Demands: Steel, Aluminium, and Cars
As part of the ongoing review process, Mexico is pushing to secure reductions in US tariffs on steel, aluminium, and automobiles. Sheinbaum confirmed she would seek direct talks with Trump if that goal requires presidential-level engagement. The review is structured as a formal clause built into the USMCA itself, not an ad hoc renegotiation.
The Core Dispute: Regional vs US-Only Manufacturing
A fundamental tension has emerged over what qualifies as 'North American' production. Washington is insisting that goods eligible for USMCA preferences be manufactured on US soil, while Mexico's position is that the entire North American region should qualify — consistent, Sheinbaum argued, with the spirit of a free trade agreement. 'We say it should not just be the United States, but the entire region, precisely because it is a free trade agreement,' she said.
Mexico's negotiating team, led by Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, is focused on ensuring the treaty's continuity. Sheinbaum acknowledged that the US government's increasingly protectionist posture has introduced new friction into the current round of talks. This comes after Trump publicly cast doubt on the USMCA's renewal in recent days, asserting that the United States does not need anything from Canada or Mexico — a claim that directly challenges the mutual-benefit framework Sheinbaum invoked.
Mexico's Cuba Aid Pledge
Separately, Sheinbaum also reaffirmed Mexico's commitment to supplying Cuba with humanitarian aid. She described the island nation as facing a 'tough situation' requiring international solidarity, and pledged that Mexico would continue sending all forms of assistance — particularly as the United States maintains its decades-long economic blockade of Cuba. 'It's a matter of solidarity. The people of Mexico have always done this, and we will continue to do so, because it is a country that needs it,' she said.
What to Watch
With Trump's scepticism of the USMCA now on record and formal review talks underway, the trajectory of US-Mexico trade relations will hinge on whether the two sides can reconcile their divergent definitions of regional manufacturing. A direct Sheinbaum-Trump meeting, if it materialises, could prove a decisive inflection point for the deal's future.
Point of View
It sets a precedent that could unravel the economic logic underpinning decades of North American supply-chain integration. Mexico's export economy — particularly autos and steel — has far more to lose from that outcome than its public posture currently admits.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the USMCA and why is it under review?
The USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) is a free trade pact that replaced NAFTA, signed by President Trump during his first term and ratified by all three national legislatures. It contains a built-in review clause that has triggered the current round of renegotiation talks between the three countries.
Why does Sheinbaum say she is willing to talk directly with Trump?
Sheinbaum said a direct presidential meeting with Trump may be necessary to secure Mexico's primary goal in the review: reducing US tariffs on steel, aluminium, and cars. She framed the talks as a continuation of the treaty's legitimate review process, not a renegotiation from scratch.
What is the key disagreement between the US and Mexico in the USMCA review?
The US is insisting that goods qualifying for USMCA trade benefits must be manufactured on US soil. Mexico argues that the entire North American region should qualify, consistent with the agreement's free-trade framework. This dispute over 'rules of origin' is the central sticking point in current talks.
Who is leading Mexico's USMCA negotiating team?
Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard is leading Mexico's delegation in the USMCA review talks, with a mandate to guarantee the treaty's continuity and secure tariff relief on key export sectors.
What did Sheinbaum say about Cuba?
Sheinbaum separately reaffirmed Mexico's commitment to sending humanitarian aid to Cuba, describing it as a matter of solidarity. She said Mexico would continue all forms of assistance, particularly as the United States maintains its long-standing economic blockade of the island.
