The theater of negotiation begins in the National Palace
Under heavy security that looked more like a spy movie than a diplomatic meeting, Jamieson Greer, the United States trade representative, crossed the gates of the National Palace this morning. His mission: sit in front of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. The stage is set for another act of the eternal USMCA drama.
Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Economy, accompanied him as a key ally in this work. “We are happy to receive it,” Ebrard declared to the press, setting the official tone. But behind the courtesy, we all know that the script is more complex.
“He is going to have a conversation with the President. This is a very good sign for Mexico,” Ebrard stated.
The heart of the conflict: steel, aluminum and cars
In his morning conference, Sheinbaum made clear the cards that Mexico will put on the table. They are no surprise, but their urgency is palpable. The central objective is for Washington to review the tariffs that weigh heavily on three vital sectors: steel, aluminum and automobiles.
“It is the progress of the dialogue… it is related to tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles,” Sheinbaum explained, measuring her words like an experienced strategist. “I wouldn’t want to move much further until we have the meeting.”
That prudence reveals a lot. It is the tacit recognition that every word here can be worth billions in trade. The president emphasized the obvious but crucial: “We care a lot about the issue.”
Their expressed desire is to achieve “prior agreement” on these thorny points, even before the broader formal negotiation. The stated goal is clear: maintain the treaty, but with improvements. A revision, not a revolution.
An open ending (for now)
After an hour and a half behind closed doors—a considerable time for a first meeting—Greer left accompanied by an entourage that speaks to the economic weight of the meeting: Ebrard, Secretary of Agriculture Julio Berdegué, Ambassador Ronald Johnson and Altagracia Gómez Sierra of the Business Advisory Council.
There were no triumphalist declarations upon leaving. Just the image of the group walking under security surveillance. In political theater, sometimes the silence after the act says more than any speech.
The work continues. The next acts will be written in Washington and in the boardrooms where companies calculate profits and losses. For today, the curtains are closed in the National Palace, but the public—all of us—are eagerly awaiting the next performance.
