Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Trilateral Deal!
Mexico City, Dec 6 (EFE).—
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Saturday that her administration has proven it is possible to maintain a close relationship with the United States based on cooperation and respect for national sovereignty, expressing confidence that the trilateral trade deal with the US and Canada will remain in place despite doubts raised by United States President Donald Trump.
Speaking before what she said were more than 600,000 attendees at the seventh anniversary of the “Fourth Transformation” political movement in Mexico City’s Zócalo, Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico is “neither a colony nor a protectorate of anyone.”
“Throughout this year, we have shown that we can maintain a good relationship with the US by putting our principles first,” she said.
Sheinbaum added she is convinced the commercial relationship with Washington will continue, days after Trump suggested he may let the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) trade deal expire in 2026 and seek a new agreement with Mexico and Canada.
“Both our economies need each other to compete with other regions of the world,” she stressed.
She also addressed Mexican migrants in the US, calling them “heroes and heroines of the homeland.”
President announces universal healthcare plan for 2026
Sheinbaum announced that her government aims to establish universal healthcare, including a new national health card that will register all residents without social security coverage.
“With this card, every Mexican will know which health center or hospital corresponds to them,” she said, adding that Mexico will digitize its health system so that in about two years, citizens can access services through ISSSTE, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), or IMSS-Bienestar, regardless of their insurance status.
On education, Sheinbaum pledged more high schools, universities, and new technological degrees.
“The best way to keep young people away from crime is by providing education, sports, and culture,” she stated.
Sheinbaum defends economic record and political continuity
Sheinbaum highlighted economic achievements during her first year in office and reaffirmed her commitment to continuing the project launched by former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
She noted that the minimum wage will rise to 315 pesos per day (17.33 dollars) in Jan. 2026, “a 154% increase compared to 2018,” with a 13% hike planned from 2025 to 2026.
She also pointed to controlled inflation, record-high foreign direct investment of over 40 billion dollars, the strength of the Mexican peso, and the creation of 551,000 formal jobs this year.
Mexico’s central bank reserves have reached 250 billion dollars, she added.
The president defended the historical principles of the Fourth Transformation and criticized those who seek to discredit it, saying that despite the use of “bots” and alliances with “interest groups in Mexico and abroad,” they “will not defeat the people of Mexico nor their president.” EFE
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