US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick praised President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration for not responding to US tariffs with tariffs.
He welcomed the fact that President Sheinbaum did not implement retaliatory tariffs, as the Canadian government did.
During a press conference from the White House, the federal official referred to the measures taken by various countries in response to the imposition of tariffs by the Donald Trump administration.
After the US president announced a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada on March 7, despite the USMCA, Canada responded by imposing tariffs on selected US products. However, President Sheinbaum’s administration decided not to respond in kind and instead opted to continue talks with the US government.
Lutnick compared the cases of Mexico and Canada, highlighting the “pragmatic and moderate” nature of the Mexican president.
“Look at how Mexico has handled it. Mexico has been moderate and pragmatic, and the approval ratings (referring to President Claudia Sheinbaum) in Mexico are 75 percent. Positive at this point,” he told the media.
The official urged the Canadian government to replicate the Mexican government’s decision. “If Canada decides to maintain its retaliatory measures, it would be a very, very bad decision,” Lutnick told reporters at the White House.
Canada is in the middle of an election, so you never know. Maybe it’s just election-day bravado, but we don’t know. The truth is, if they impose these tariffs, we’ll talk in the Oval Office, and the president (Donald Trump) will respond. I hope they decide to abstain,” he said.
