With Trump’s Reprieve on Tariffs, Mexico, Still Wary, Breathes Easier

On Thursday morning, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico spoke with President Trump, in a last-ditch attempt to avert the 25 percent tariffs that Mr. Trump imposed this week on her country’s exports, which would devastate its economy.

For now, it appears to have worked.

On social media, after the two leaders’ call, Mr. Trump announced that he would give Mexico another month. At least until April 2, he said, Mexico will not be required to pay tariffs on anything that falls under the main North American trade pact.

“I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum,” Mr. Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Our relationship has been a very good one.” He also noted Mexico’s work on curbing illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking.

Ms. Sheinbaum responded in a post on social media: “Many thanks to President Donald Trump. We had an excellent and respectful call.”

“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 added.

In a news conference on Thursday morning, Ms. Sheinbaum said she had shared with Mr. Trump examples of what the government had accomplished, including data that showed a decrease of more than 40 percent in the amount of fentanyl seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the border. “I told him, we’re seeing results,” Ms. Sheinbaum said, adding that she told him tariffs would jeopardize such cooperation. “It wasn’t a threat, none of that,” she added.