MEXICO CITY

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Tuesday that her government will impose retaliatory tariffs because of US President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Mexican goods.

The Mexican leader condemned Trump's tariffs that took effect early Tuesday and accusations that her government holds ties with drug trafficking organizations while announcing tariffs of her own on American goods.

"There is no motive, reason, or justification that supports this decision that will affect our peoples and nations; we have said it in different ways: cooperation and coordination, yes; subordination and interventionism, no. Mexico is to be respected. We are equal nations," Sheinbaum said at a news conference.

The White House announced the imposition of a longstanding promise of tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods on March 4, citing an alleged attempt to curb drug flows and undocumented immigrants from both countries.

The US made accusations in a statement that drug trafficking organizations hold "an intolerable relationship with the government of Mexico" and Mexican officials are currently collaborating with cartels to enable the manufacture and distribution of illicit drugs.

Sheinbaum labeled the White House statement as "offensive, defamatory, and unsubstantiated" while citing efforts her government has taken to curb drug trafficking, such as the recent extradition of 29 high-profile criminals related to drug trafficking to the US, the seizure of more than 1 million fentanyl pills and the arrest of 13,800 cartel members.

Sheinbaum said her government would answer Trump's tariffs with measures of its own.

"I want to make it clear today that we will always seek a negotiated solution as we have proposed within the framework of respect for our sovereignty, but the unilateral decision affects the United States national and foreign companies that operate in our country and affect our people, so we have decided to respond with measures that will be announced in public next Sunday," added Sheinbaum.