How Mexico could retaliate against Trump's threats

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is trying to be as prepared as possible for Donald Trump’s return to the White House, whose “America first” policy threatens Mexico in major ways.

Trump’s goal of deporting millions of migrants would put tremendous pressure on Mexico’s economy and society as the country tried to absorb the influx.

Moreover, the sharp increase in tariffs, that he said could go up to 25%, could devastate the critical export sector of Mexico’s economy, experts say.

Lastly, Trump has floated the idea of using US military power to confront narcotraffickers within Mexico, which would directly impinge on Mexico’s sovereignty, with some experts calling it a “silent invasion”, that could generate more violence on both sides of the border.

But, could Mexico retaliate? And, how exactly could they do it? According to scholar of US-Latin American relations Scott Morgenstern, there are several ways Mexico could push back on Trump.

Indeed, Shainbaum has already said that she will counter Trump’s policies in a public letter that she wrote to him on November, where she stated that “for every tariff imposed, there will be a response in kind.”

But besides imposing tariffs of her own, Morgensten says that there could be other types of retaliation, such as, revoking some of the decades-old tax and labor privileges that have benefited U.S. businesses operating within Mexico, the expert writes in The Conversation.

Moreover, she could play the “China card”, the expert adds, “that is, in the face of worsening U.S.-Mexico ties, Mexico could turn to Washington’s biggest economic rival at a time when Beijing is seeking to assert more influence across Latin America.”

Relations will be led primarily by Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who, in the first moments after Trump's election, has visited consuls in the United States to reinforce the consular strategy in the face of possible deportations, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In addition, Mexico is also seeking support from other nations on the issue of repatriating deportees, according to a DW report.

Never miss a story! Click here to follow The Daily Digest.