Sheinbaum and Lutnick Hold ‘Very Useful’ Virtual Meeting Amid US-Mexico Trade Talks

Mexico City — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick held a virtual meeting that Mexico’s economy secretary described as a cordial exchange likely to prove highly useful to the two countries’ ongoing trade negotiations.

Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who attended the meeting, said in a social media post on Wednesday that the conversation had concluded and that he would travel to Washington the following day to keep advancing the talks.

“The conversation between President Claudia Sheinbaum and Secretary Howard Lutnick has concluded. I had the good fortune to be present. The exchange was cordial, and I believe it will be very useful for the trade negotiations currently underway with the United States. Tomorrow I will be in Washington to keep making progress,” Ebrard wrote.

Hours earlier, Ebrard had said the conversation between Sheinbaum and Lutnick would take place remotely because the US commerce secretary “could not complete yesterday’s scheduled flight due to weather conditions.”

The meeting comes as the United States, Mexico and Canada review the USMCA trade pact and amid friction over Washington’s aggressive rhetoric toward its southern neighbor.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump said Mexico has nothing to offer his country beyond “spicy tamales and tomatoes,” though he added that he does not intend to interrupt the trade relationship because he gets along “very well” with Sheinbaum.

Trump made the remarks in the Oval Office while answering reporters’ questions about his threat to cut trade with nations that run a trade surplus with the United States.

“If I stopped trading with them, we wouldn’t lose anything. One signature would be enough. We lose $195 billion a year with Mexico. They have nothing that we really need. Basically, they have nothing that we need,” he said.

Last week, Sheinbaum said that although relations with Washington have had “difficulties,” she trusts the two countries will reach an “understanding” on security and trade.

The most recent round of trade review talks was held in July in Mexico City, where trade representatives from both nations addressed issues including tariffs on the automotive, steel and aluminum industries, as well as agriculture and economic security.