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WASHINGTON — President Trump announced a partial rollback of a 25% tariff on Mexican goods Thursday, citing the US neighbor’s actions to stop the flow of illegal immigration and deadly drugs.

“After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“This Agreement is until April 2nd. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!”


  A Mexican National Guard officer patrols at a high point of El Nido de las Aguilas in eastern Tijuana, Baja California State, Mexico, on March 5, 2025, on the Mexican side of the Mexico-US border. AFP via Getty Images A Mexican National Guard officer patrols at a high point of El Nido de las Aguilas in eastern Tijuana, Baja California State, Mexico, on March 5, 2025, on the Mexican side of the Mexico-US border. AFP via Getty Images

Trump imposed sweeping levies on both Mexican and Canadian goods Tuesday citing unlawful border crossings and illicit fentanyl smuggling — along with a new 20% tariff on Chinese goods, citing exports of the deadly synthetic opioid that killed 334,000 Americans over the past five years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It’s unclear if Sheinbaum agreed to any new concessions. In early February, she deployed 10,000 National Guard troops to the US-Mexico border after Trump’s initial threat of applying the tariff.

The Mexican president said in her own statement, “Many thanks to President Donald Trump. We had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, within the framework of respect for our sovereignties.”

“We will continue to work together, particularly on migration and security issues, which include reducing the illegal crossing of fentanyl into the United States, as well as weapons into Mexico,” she wrote.

“As mentioned by President Trump, Mexico will not be required to pay tariffs on all those products within the USMCA. This agreement is until April 2, when the United States will announce reciprocal tariffs for all countries.”


  Cowboys herd cattle onto a trailer to be exported to the United States. REUTERS Cowboys herd cattle onto a trailer to be exported to the United States. REUTERS

Data released this week show that illegal border crossing arrests in February plummeted to the lowest monthly rate in at least 25 years — after Trump retook power pledging a mass deportation campaign and Sheinbaum agreed to beef up Mexican security forces.

Mexico is America’s second largest trading partner, following Canada, and is a major source of cars, crude oil and food products including avocados.

Trump on Wednesday issued a one-month carveout for vehicles imported from both Canada and Mexico.

The president granted a reprieve to Mexico while blasting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in another Thursday-morning post.

“Believe it or not, despite the terrible job he’s done for Canada, I think that Justin Trudeau is using the Tariff problem, which he has largely caused, in order to run again for Prime Minister. So much fun to watch,” Trump wrote.


  A worker picks strawberries in an orchard in Michoacan, Mexico on March 5, 2025. AFP via Getty Images A worker picks strawberries in an orchard in Michoacan, Mexico on March 5, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

China has not received tariff waivers and issued a bellicose statement this week saying, “If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News Tuesday that “I am highly confident that the Chinese manufacturers will eat the tariffs — prices won’t go up,” and that “with Canada and Mexico, I think we’re in the middle of a transition.”

Although Trump’s wave of tariffs against America’s three top trading partners are ostensibly punishment for fentanyl and illegal immigration, he also has broadly touted the trade sanctions as a way to boost domestic industries.

Trump last month ordered a stiffening of existing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and has previewed plans to tariff foreign copper, lumber, pharmaceuticals and computer chips.

His next major round of tariffs is expected on April 2 under a plan to slap financial penalties on other countries that either tariff American products or have significant non-tariff barriers — with the European Union and Japan among those due to be affected.

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