Sheinbaum: US Business Leaders Back USMCA Trade Deal

Mexico City, Mexico — U.S. business leaders are the strongest defenders of the North American trade agreement (USMCA), Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday, following comments from her U.S. counterpart Donald Trump that the pact is “irrelevant.”

The White House chief dismissed the benefits of free trade between Mexico, the United States, and Canada on Tuesday during a visit to an automotive plant. The agreement has been in effect since 1994 through the NAFTA and USMCA accords.

“Those who most defend the treaty are U.S. business leaders… because there is a very large integration, they have many production plants, not just for cars,” Sheinbaum said in response to journalists’ questions during her morning press conference.

Trump’s statements come as the three trading partners prepare to negotiate a review of the USMCA amid tariff pressures from Washington.

Sheinbaum argued that in the Republican’s trade escalation with China, it benefits Washington to remain integrated in the USMCA.

“It is much better that we remain as North America to compete with China than the United States alone; it benefits them,” the president said.

Sheinbaum, who spoke by phone with Trump on Monday about security issues, said she will seek another call in the coming days to address pending matters such as the soccer World Cup that the three trading partners are organizing this 2026 and commercial issues.

When asked by the press, the president mentioned that she might seek an in-person meeting with the White House chief.

Despite Trump’s constant criticism of the trade agreement, Sheinbaum has remained optimistic about the prospects for the USMCA review.

To the trade tensions have been added the Republican’s threats to launch ground attacks against Mexican cartels. In Monday’s call, Sheinbaum rejected the presence of U.S. troops in the country.