US and Mexico Near Anti-Drug Pact as Trump Delays Tariff Hike

The United States and Mexico are close to finalising a security agreement aimed at curbing drug trafficking, limiting the flow of fentanyl precursors and stepping up joint actions against cross-border violence. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the draft pact calls for deeper intelligence sharing and tighter enforcement on arms smuggling from north to south. Progress in the talks prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to postpone a planned tariff increase on Mexican imports, according to officials familiar with the negotiations. The White House last week granted Mexico a 90-day reprieve, leaving in place a 25% levy on goods outside the USMCA but holding off on additional penalties while the security package is completed. Officials on both sides said the accord could be signed as early as next week and may pave the way for broader negotiations on trade issues. Those discussions include options to narrow the bilateral deficit and potential agreements with U.S. energy companies on natural-gas projects. Mexico hopes the security breakthrough will ease pressure in forthcoming reviews of the free-trade pact scheduled for 2026.