Mexico has deployed 6,000 members of its National Guard on its border with Guatemala in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants heading to the US.
Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard is in Washington trying to stop the US from placing trade tariffs on Mexican goods over illegal migration.
US President Donald Trump has vowed to enact import duties of 5% on Monday if no agreement is reached.
On Wednesday, he said “not nearly enough” progress was being made.
After the latest talks on Thursday, Mr Ebrard said he was “an optimistic man.”
He said forces would be stationed on Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala to prevent migrants entering the country.
“We have explained that there are 6,000 men and that they will be deployed there,” he said, adding that talks would continue Friday.
The White House may welcome an offer of 6,000 more troops on Mexico’s southern border, but given the unpredictability of this presidency, it’s not yet clear if that will be enough for President Trump to call off the tariffs.
Meanwhile, in Mexico itself, the proposal has quite a different complexion.
To Mr López Obrador’s critics, it looks like he has essentially given in to the Trump administration by offering to further militarise what is already a pretty militarised part of Mexico.
The Mexican delegation in Washington says the Mexican government is doing all it can on immigration. It’s difficult to get the balancing act right, said one Mexican senator, between regulating migration from Central America and clamping down in the way the Trump administration would
One interesting development is the call by President López Obrador for a rally this weekend in the border city of Tijuana, ostensibly to celebrate Mexican sovereignty. It’s a sign that Mr Trump can push too far. If Mexico responds to US tariffs with tariffs of its own, especially ones targeted in
important swing states like Ohio, then we could see a tit-for-tat economic conflict that will hurt consumers and workers on both sides of the border.
