Tariffs might not win awards for economic elegance, but as a foreign policy tool, they’ve proven surprisingly effective. Even before stepping back into the Oval Office, Donald Trump has managed to push both Canada and Mexico into reevaluating their positions. Canada’s Justin Trudeau has already shown a willingness to revisit key security issues, while Mexico’s newly elected president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, is signaling cooperation on migration and border security. Whether the details are crystal clear or not, the overarching narrative is hard to miss: Trump is setting the agenda, and the neighbors are listening.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump announced what he framed as a breakthrough. According to his post, Sheinbaum Pardo agreed to effectively close the southern border by halting migration through Mexico into the United States. Trump also mentioned discussing the massive inflow of illegal drugs across the border, describing the conversation as “very productive.” However, as is often the case in diplomacy, the interpretation of “productive” varies depending on who you ask.
Sheinbaum Pardo later walked back some of Trump’s claims, though she remained diplomatic. She characterized the discussion as “excellent” but clarified that Mexico’s commitment was specific to addressing migrant caravans before they reach the U.S. border, not a blanket agreement to stop migration entirely. She also pointed out that Mexico had already been taking steps to address these issues prior to her conversation with Trump. While her statement softened some of Trump’s assertions, it still signaled a willingness to work with the incoming administration on shared concerns.
Critics and skeptics, however, are eyeing Mexico’s actions with a healthy dose of suspicion. Before the election, the U.S.-Mexico border was inundated with waves of migrants waiting to cross. Yet almost immediately after Trump’s victory, those caravans seemed to vanish as Mexico redirected the flow. The timing wasn’t lost on anyone paying attention. It’s clear Mexico recognizes the shift in political power and is eager to find common ground with Trump, especially with looming tariff discussions and the USMCA trade agreement hanging in the balance.
Whether you admire or detest Trump’s approach, it’s hard to argue with the results. His mix of pressure and negotiation has brought both allies and adversaries back to the table. Mexico’s willingness to adjust its stance—whether driven by economic fears or political pragmatism—shows that Trump’s methods are shaking things up. While the long-term effectiveness of these agreements remains to be seen, one thing is certain: Trump is wasting no time in reasserting his vision for America’s role on the world stage, one tariff threat and one headline-grabbing conversation at a time.
