Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – President Donald Trump insisted today that his decision to delay the imposition of 25% tariffs on Mexican imports by one month was unrelated to market reactions or criticism from political allies. Trump framed the move as part of a strategy to secure increased border security commitments from Mexico.
The tariff hike, initially scheduled to take effect on February 4, will now be postponed until March following assurances from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum pledged to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops along the shared border to bolster security measures, something that was already proposed in her security plan released days after her election in October last year, before Donald Trump’s election.
“There was no blinking,” Trump asserted during a spontaneous interaction with reporters at the White House. “She did agree to 10,000 soldiers on the border. I would say that’s a lot.”
Trump confirmed that negotiations between Mexican officials and U.S. representatives, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, will take place in the coming weeks to avert the tariffs altogether.
The decision to hold off on the tariff increase comes as markets exhibited early volatility on Monday. Investors expressed concerns over the potential impact of trade barriers on energy and commodity flows between the two neighboring economies.
This move echoes Trump’s 2019 threat to impose tariffs on Mexican goods, which he withdrew after Mexico’s former President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, agreed to deploy 21,000 National Guard troops to manage migrant flows toward the U.S.
The president also dismissed criticism from traditionally supportive quarters, including the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, which labeled the move “the Dumbest Trade War.”
“I don’t agree with [Rupert Murdoch] on many things,” Trump said, referencing the News Corp owner present for the signing of an unrelated executive order. “The Wall Street Journal is wrong because every single country you’re writing about right now is dying to make a deal.”
President Donald Trump’s political strategy often involves creating or escalating crises, only to later announce their resolution as a personal triumph. By framing situations as urgent threats — whether in trade negotiations, immigration policies, or international relations — Trump positions himself as the decisive leader who brings about resolution. This approach not only keeps him at the center of political discourse but also allows him to claim victory even when the concessions or outcomes achieved are minimal or symbolic. Critics argue that this tactic undermines trust and stability, as manufactured crises can create unnecessary economic and political turbulence.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - President Donald Trump insisted today that his decision to delay the imposition of 25% tariffs on Mexican imports by one month was unrelated to market reactions or criticism from political allies. Trump framed the move as part of a strategy to secure increased border security commitments from Mexico.
