Mexico and Canada respond to Trump's new tariffs

Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum doesn't back down to bullying. And she actually has some concept of international strategy, i.e., it’s more than a big mob "protection" racket. She can also express a chain of thought in complete and coherent sentences. Gosh, imagine a President who can do that! Like: "It is time for the defense of Mexico and its sovereignty." (As opposed to, say, "Don't tell us how we're gonna feel! You don't have the cards!") (1)

Scheinbaum is a physicist who has published two books and over 100 academic articles, so she's had practice in putting together coherent sentences.

She's called for a rally in Mexico City Sunday where she will announce what Mexico's retaliatory tariffs will be in response to the ones the US announced today against them. "Proudly, we are a country that is free, independent, and sovereign."

And Scheinbaum doesn’t hesitate to say how much damage that the drug consumption in the US generates for Mexico. Including the massive arms traffic from the US to drug cartels in Mexico, thanks to the American policy that firearms have the inalienable right to reproduce and be sold on the "free market." US President Richard Nixon announced the "war on drugs" in 1971. Maybe another in another 54 years or so it will finally start solving the problem.

All I can say is, Respect! And: ¡Viva la Presidenta!

Also, Canada’s Prime Minister, who I understand that some people consider to be quite a hunk, has his own patriotic thoughts on the situation. I’m pretty sure he won’t be asking for Canada to become a state of the United States. Just a wild guess. (2)

It's worth remembering that it was the Trump 1.0 Administration that negotiated the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that encouraged business cooperation among the three countries. (3) I guess he’s changed his mind on that whole idea!

Notes:

(1) Es tiempo de unidad y defensa de nuestra soberanía. Conferencia presidenta Sheinbaum. Claudia Scheinbaum Pardo YouTube channel 03/04/2025. <https://www.youtube.com/live/PiTc8oW2Q6s?si=vLVX1kmzDtjPBiJG> (Accessed: 2025-04-03).

(2) Watch Trudeau speak directly to Trump during blistering speech. CNN YouTube channel 03/04/2025. <https://youtu.be/wz_42pckM7w?si=bNdg7viBqpeKlUyJ> (Accessed: 2025-04-03).

(3) United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Office of the United State Trade Representtive, n/d. <https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement> (Accessed: 2025-04-03).