Mexico’s Sheinbaum Confirms Trump Call, Says Tariff Deal Is ‘Advancing’
Key Facts
—The confirmation — President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly confirmed on Friday, 18 September 2026, that she spoke with Donald Trump on Wednesday — her 22nd call with the US president — and described it as “very good.”
—The substance — Sheinbaum said “certain agreements” were reached but gave no details until a final deal. The goal, she said, is a reduction of US tariffs in several sectors.
—The calendar — Formal negotiations resume on 28 September in Washington. Mexico’s central bank decides its next interest rate on Thursday, 24 September.
—The market — The peso traded near 17.15 per US dollar on Thursday, close to a one-month low, after the Federal Reserve raised rates on 16 September.
Mexico’s president has confirmed the call her government kept quiet for two days. The trade talks with Washington are “advancing,” some agreements exist — and the tariff question now moves to the negotiating table on 28 September.
What Sheinbaum Said on Friday
At her morning press conference in Irapuato, in the state of Guanajuato, Sheinbaum said the Wednesday call with Trump had been planned in advance. Her government did not announce it earlier, she said, because of the progress in the trade talks.
“Certain agreements” were reached, she said, but none can be made public until there is a final deal. The objective is concrete: “at least a reduction in the tariffs we currently have.” Reuters reported on Friday that Mexico is doing everything in its power to reach an agreement.
Security was not discussed this time, she added — a notable omission after months in which Trump tied tariffs to migration and drug enforcement. The US currently charges 50 percent on Mexican steel and aluminum and 25 percent on cars and auto parts that do not qualify under the USMCA, the trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The State of the USMCA
Sheinbaum was blunt about the pact on Friday: formally, the USMCA “has not disappeared,” but US tariffs mean “the original idea is not preserved.” The United States declined to renew the agreement in its current form on 1 July 2026, moving it into annual reviews that can run through 2036.
The next formal round opens on 28 September in Washington, one week later than first planned. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer leads for Washington; Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard leads for Mexico City. The Rio Times covered the Wednesday call and the tariff stack and the postponed round in detail.
Sheinbaum also addressed Canada directly. She said she respects Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decisions — a reference to Ottawa’s turn toward the European Union after its own talks with Washington broke down. Mexico’s message is that it is negotiating, not retaliating.
What It Means for Expats and Investors
For companies producing in Mexico, Friday’s signals point toward relief rather than escalation. A deal that cuts the metals and auto duties would lower costs for factories from Monterrey to Guanajuato — the state where Sheinbaum spoke, and one of Mexico’s industrial heartlands.
For anyone earning or paying in pesos, two dates now matter: the central bank’s rate decision on Thursday, 24 September, and the Washington round on 28 September. The peso ended Thursday near 17.15 per dollar, close to a one-month low, squeezed between the Federal Reserve’s rate increase and the wait for a deal.
The direction of movement is toward an agreement. The caution is in the silence: no tariff line has changed, and neither side has published any text.
What We Could Not Confirm
Which tariffs a deal would actually reduce, and by how much. Whether a framework can be signed before the US midterm elections in November. The content of the “certain agreements” Sheinbaum cited. And whether her announced visit to Ciudad Juárez — expected amid a dispute over US agents operating near the border — will include trade on its agenda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Mexico and the US reach a trade deal?
Not yet. President Sheinbaum said on 18 September 2026 that “certain agreements” exist after her 22nd call with President Trump, but nothing is public until a final deal. Formal talks resume on 28 September in Washington.
What tariffs does the US charge on Mexican goods?
Fifty percent on steel and aluminum, and 25 percent on cars and auto parts that do not qualify under the USMCA. Goods failing the pact’s rules of origin face a separate duty. Mexico’s stated goal is a reduction of these tariffs.
Is the USMCA still in force?
Yes, formally. The United States declined to renew it in its current form on 1 July 2026, and it now runs under annual reviews that can continue through 2036. Sheinbaum said on 18 September that US tariffs mean “the original idea is not preserved.”
What happens to the peso next?
The peso traded near 17.15 per US dollar on 17 September 2026, close to a one-month low. The next drivers are Mexico’s central bank decision on 24 September and the Washington trade round on 28 September.
Sources: Reuters (18 September 2026); El País English (18 September 2026); Uno TV, transcript of the presidential press conference in Irapuato (18 September 2026); Border Report (18 September 2026). FX basis: USD/MXN 17.15, 18 September 2026.
More: Mexico coverage from The Rio Times.
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