Mexico sends 10,000 troops to the border; wins tariff reprieve

Donald Trump granted a one month reprieve to Mexico from his planned tariffs after it agreed to send 10,000 National Guard troops to the border; Trudeau will talk to the President this morning AEDT.

Mexico has been granted a one month reprieve from Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs after it agreed to send 10,000 troops to the US-Mexican border in eleventh hour negotiations, but no pause has yet been provided to Canada as talks continue with Justin Trudeau.

Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that a breakthrough in the looming North American trade war had been reached after a “very friendly conversation” with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

“She agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States,” Mr Trump said. “We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period.”

“These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our Country,” Mr Trump said.

During the next four weeks there would also be ongoing “negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico.

“I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a ‘deal’ between our two Countries,” Mr Trump said.

Ms Sheinbaum said that Mexico would “immediately reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, particularly fentanyl.”

She also made clear that the United States had committed to “working to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico.”

“Our teams will begin working today on two fronts: security and trade,” she said. “They are pausing tariffs for one month from now.”

Ms Sheinbaum had reacted furiously to the White House a few days ago when it explained its imposition of 25 per cent tariffs by saying that “Mexican drug trafficking organisations have an intolerable alliance with the government of Mexico.”

She blasted this as “slander against the Mexican government” and strongly rejected the notion of any alliance with criminal organisations.

“Problems are not resolved by imposing tariffs, but by talking and dialoguing,” she said. “Nothing by force; everything by reason and right.”

The breakthrough with Mexico was reached less than 24 hours before the tariffs were due to commence, although Canada still faces the prospect of 25 per cent tariffs entering into force from midnight on Monday local time.

Responding to the US tariffs, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province would immediately ban American companies from winning provincial contracts. The Ontario government would also rip up its $100m contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink aimed at providing high-speed internet.

“Every year, the Ontario government and its agencies spend $30bn on procurement, alongside our $200bn plan to build Ontario. US-based businesses will now lose out on tens of billions of dollars in new revenues. They only have President Trump to blame,” he posted on X.

“We’re going one step further. We’ll be ripping up the province’s contract with Starlink. Ontario won’t do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy,” Mr Ford said. “Canada didn’t start this fight with the US, but you better believe we’re ready to win it.”

Elon Musk responded to the decision, by posting on X: “Oh well.”

Mr Trump also posted about Canada on Monday morning, saying that it didn’t “even allow US Banks to open or do business there. What’s that all about?”

“Many such things, but it’s also a DRUG WAR, and hundreds of thousands of people have died in the US from drugs pouring through the Borders of Mexico and Canada. Just spoke to Justin Trudeau. Will be speaking to him again at 3:00 P.M.”

The previous day, Mr Trump made clear that if Canada agreed to become the 51st state of America it would not face the prospect of tariffs. “Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!” he said.

Responding to Mr Trump’s tariffs over the weekend, Mr Trudeau acknowledged that Canadians would suffer but also warned that US citizens would be harmed, their jobs placed at risk, factories potentially shuttered and prices forced upwards unnecessarily.

“Tariffs against Canada will put your jobs at risk, potentially shutting down American auto-­assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities,” he said. “They will raise costs for you, including food at the grocery store and gas at the pump. They will impede your access to an affordable supply of vital goods crucial for US security such as nickel, potash, uranium, steel and aluminium.”