Trump claims Mexico's president has agreed to 'halt' migration

President-elect Donald Trump stated that Mexico’s leader had agreed to "stop" migration during talks on Wednesday, effectively closing the southern US border. His claims extended beyond the account of the Mexican president, who described their discussion as focused on migration "strategy."

“Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately,” Trump wrote on social media, celebrating the progress in addressing what he referred to as an “illegal invasion,” a matter he has pledged to tackle upon taking office in January.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum did not immediately respond to Trump’s remarks, which appeared to suggest a significant agreement between the United States and Mexico.

She had earlier shared brief details of their conversation, which included a photo of her smiling during the call. "We discussed Mexico's strategy on the migration phenomenon, and I shared that caravans are not arriving at the northern border because they are being taken care of in Mexico," Sheinbaum said on X. The two leaders also discussed "strengthening collaboration on security issues" and efforts to curb fentanyl consumption, according to Sheinbaum.

Trump’s comments followed his earlier social media post on Monday, in which he threatened to impose tariffs of 25 percent on Mexican and Canadian imports and 10 percent on goods from China. "This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, particularly Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump, who won the election with illegal migration as a key issue, has promised to declare a national emergency on border security and use the US military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented migrants.

Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard responded to the tariffs threat on Wednesday, stating that it could result in the loss of “400,000 jobs” in the United States, citing a study based on US carmakers that operate in Mexico. Ebrard also warned that US consumers would feel the impact, especially in the market for pickup trucks, most of which are manufactured in Mexico. According to Ebrard, the tariffs would add $3,000 to the cost of a new vehicle.

"The impact of this measure will chiefly be felt by consumers in the United States... That is why we say that it would be a shot in the foot," Ebrard said, speaking alongside Sheinbaum at her regular morning conference.

Mexico and China have been vocal in their opposition to Trump’s trade war threats since day one of his second presidential term, set to begin on January 20. Sheinbaum deemed the threats "unacceptable" and emphasized that Mexico’s drug cartels exist primarily to serve US drug consumption. China has warned that “no one will win a trade war.”

During his first term, Trump initiated a trade war with Beijing, imposing significant tariffs on Chinese goods. China retaliated with tariffs on American products, particularly affecting US farmers.

The United States, Mexico, and Canada are part of the USMCA, a three-decade-old trade agreement that was renegotiated under Trump after he argued that US businesses, especially automakers, were at a disadvantage.