Yup, there will be hard times ahead for her and the nation. Certainly a huge personality clash…

James, you are ever so articulate in your naivety

Maybe you should read the news. Mexico is the US’s largest trading partner and a huge amount of produce is imported from Mexico. 25% tariffs affect the US consumers not the exporters, so those ill-informed Trump supporters are going to be in for a nasty surprise. They thought food prices would go down under Trump, instead of up. And his party’s response to that? “Well maybe they should only eat food grown in the US!” Good luck to that when they want guacamole for their Super Bowl party.

I know; the suspense is killing me. The US and, by extension, the American consumer can weather and bear the tariffs more on Mexican imports than the reverse. Because what Mexico exports to the US is not primarily a staple for most Americans, the US can prolong and endure a trade war. The auto industry is the primary trade between the US and Mexico; Most people don’t consume autos daily or weekly. If you purchase a US car (or an Audi Q5) or that 75-inch TV, you should do it before January 21. I’ll bet Sheinbaum acquiesces long before Trump. Once the Peso gets to 22 and appears on a trajectory for 25, and then US FDI in Mexico gets paused, Sheinbaum will get pressured. If the US administration begins to threaten remittance tax, Sheinbaum will fold like a bad suit. The US has ALL the leverage, and all Sheinbaum can do is to write letters. They had better start formulating action plans. In reality, Sheinbaum will take action before the inauguration; mark my word. We are witnessing what professional-level, old-school, pre-WTO trade action looks like. That upper-level international trade class from the late 1980s is finally paying off—I’ll bet they don’t teach it anymore at Cal.

I agree with you 100%. I am so proud of our Presidente. Unfortunately, she is going to have problems dealing with Trump and his inability to comprehend anything over a 4th or 5th grade level.

Precisely! I would enjoy reading the letter she sent to the CJNG. Unfortunately, I don’t think she has the fortitude to make a stand with the cartels—evidence of who is really in control.

How so? The UAW doesn’t directly represent Mexican auto workers. This could be a hidden boon for the American auto industry since its sales are in the toilet. Look at the sales volume for GM, Ford, and Stellantis. While volumes have decreased, prices remain high. Now, many producers have incentivized with 0% financing. Do you think all those guys who shelled out $80-100K on new trucks over the last couple of years are going to be concerned over this—not even. Plenty of buyers won’t even think twice about shelling out $100k (pre-tariff) on a new truck assembled in Mexico when the financing is 0%.