Claudia Sheinbaum must make her own foreign policy definitions, after the abandonment of this field in the last six-year term, highlighted Roberta Lajous, Mexico‘s retired ambassador.
Lajous considered that Mexico must give priority at this time to coordination with the United States and Canada.
US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose generalized tariffs on imports to his country, as well as specific tariffs on countries such as China, Mexico and Canada. He has done so arguing insufficient actions on migration and drug trafficking.
Foreign policy of Claudia Sheinbaum
“The diplomatic offensive that Mexico has to put together has to add the different levels of government and Congress, because there is also parliamentary diplomacy, and it has to add businessmen, academics and broad sectors of society,” she said.
A few days ago, she attended a meeting of the North American Forum in Ottawa, Canada. During the event, participants analyzed the implications of Trump’s second term as President of the United States. They also discussed the revision of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States, and Canada (USMCA), scheduled for 2026 but set to begin in 2025.
“Canadian businessmen do want the negotiation with Mexico included, because they realize that it is more difficult to negotiate alone,” he commented.
First trading partner
The review of the USMCA will occur in a context where Mexico has held the position of the United States’ top trading partner since 2023. Additionally, it will align with the potential negotiation of a comprehensive agreement among North American countries.
Lajous is a research associate to the presidency of El Colegio de México and a Global Fellow at The Wilson Center in Washington D.C. She was Mexico’s ambassador to Spain, Bolivia, Cuba and Austria. She also served as Director General for North America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE).
According to Lajous, businessmen from Mexico, the United States, and Canada have gained significant experience in trade negotiations since 1994. Furthermore, they have remained organized, collaborating and learning from one another over the years.
“I think Mexico is better off with the North American card,” said Lajous, and then commented that the three North American nations should have a structured policy towards China.