Trump cancels duty-free travel to Mexico... and everyone else

Hours before US President Donald Trump holds a phone call with his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum To discuss whether or not tariffs will be imposed on our country on August 1, a new executive order was announced that cancels the free entry of low-cost items into the United States known as Duty Free .

Now, all countries in the world, including Mexico, will have to pay different tariff rates (according to their treaties with the US) for so-called de minimis, or items worth less than $800 (about 1,600 Mexican pesos).

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These are all items that American travelers from other countries bring with them when returning to the United States and that were previously duty-free .

The measure, according to the executive order, will take effect on August 29 and will apply to all assets valued at less than $800, according to the White House.

Each country will pay a different rate for these low-cost products, depending on the trade agreement or negotiation it has reached with the United States.

This includes impacts on the digital commerce platforms Temu and Shein , which ship clothing, household goods, and other low-cost products, and everything will now have to be priced.

The document exempts the entry of $200 worth of personal items for each U.S. citizen returning from abroad and says that individuals who receive legitimate gifts with a value of $100 will continue to be exempt. However, the change will apply to all shipments regardless of value, country of origin, mode of transportation, or method of entry, according to the executive order.

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Authorities asserted that the measure seeks to curb tariff evasion and the use of unsafe and cheap products linked to the trafficking of lethal synthetic opioids.

According to the text, Mexico and China have used the exemption to import fentanyl and precursor chemicals.

This agreement comes less than 24 hours before the deadline for the introduction of general tariffs of 30% for Mexico and varying amounts for other countries.

Minutes before the de minimis issue became known, the White House announced a presidential proclamation imposing 50% tariffs on copper imports.

The document reported that, following an investigation by the Department of Commerce, there is a global excess of copper production capacity, which is weakening the U.S. economy.

"Washington has determined that this metal is essential to its manufacturing and even has a bearing on its national and economic security," the document stated.

Just hours before the decision on tariffs against Mexico is announced, President Claudia Sheinbaum will hold a phone call with her US counterpart, Donald Trump , this Thursday, which will even delay part of her morning press conference.

According to the official agenda, the morning session will begin at 10 a.m., not at 7:30 a.m. as usual.

Claudia Sheinbaum met yesterday with U.S. congressmen and officials, led by the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson.

The meeting was requested by U.S. legislators, and he explained that they would discuss "the Mexico-United States relationship, the situation of our countrymen there, our concern for what they are experiencing, the need—we always talk about it—for immigration reform that would allow Mexicans to have a way, with papers, that would allow them to work there."

The meeting lasted just under an hour. Republican Donald Bacon and Democrat Rohit Khanna attended with a large entourage.

At the meeting, the President was accompanied by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ramón de la Fuente.

“These are the topics we normally talk about: security, business, and what we're doing.”