Isaac Presburger and many other Mexican businessmen were skeptical until the last minute that President Trump’s promise to impose tariffs on Mexico would become a reality. Despite Trump’s declaration on the same day, Presburger, the director of sales at Preslow, a family-run apparel business in Mexico, remained disbelieving. He believed that Trump’s tactics were meant to pressure other countries into giving him what he wanted, and Mexico had already made significant concessions. However, this did not prevent the tariffs from being implemented after midnight on Tuesday, leaving Mexico reeling and feeling betrayed. President Claudia Sheinbaum had made concerted efforts to show her government’s commitment to US demands, with actions such as deploying National Guard troops to combat fentanyl trafficking and extraditing alleged cartel heads to the United States. These measures, however, were not enough to avoid the imposition of tariffs. The consequences were felt across Mexico, from businessmen to the government, and with uncertainty hanging over future trade relations.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/world/americas/trump-mexico-tariffs-sheinbaum.html