**Primary Article: Mexico to Maintain Strong Ties with the US Despite Tariff Threats, Says Sheinbaum**
On November 5, 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico, issued a response to Donald Trump following his threat to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican exports to the United States if Sheinbaum did not manage to curb illegal border crossings and drug trafficking. Trump, who is once again a Republican presidential candidate, warned of escalating tariffs during a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on the eve of the American elections.
President Sheinbaum stressed the importance of maintaining a positive relationship between Mexico and the United States, emphasizing the efforts Mexico has made to reduce migration at the northern border. She assured that the constructive dialogue and cooperation between both countries would continue, regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential elections.
Sheinbaum highlighted that since December 2023, there has been a significant 75% reduction in migrants reaching Mexico’s northern border. An official report on these efforts was scheduled to be presented by Mexico’s Foreign Minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, on November 8, 2024.
The Mexican President underscored the significance of well-coordinated bilateral efforts to address not only migration and drug trafficking but also other pressing issues such as gun trafficking from the U.S. to Mexico. She expressed confidence that once the U.S. electoral body announces the election results, dialogues of high importance would be initiated to ensure a smooth diplomatic relationship with whoever wins the presidency.
Furthermore, Sheinbaum iterated the critical role of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for the economies of both the U.S. and Mexico, pointing out the mutual benefits and economic interdependencies fostered by this trade agreement.
**Secondary Article: 2024 U.S. Presidential Election on a Knife’s Edge**
As the U.S. presidential elections unfolded on November 5, 2024, Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, and current Vice President, were pitted against former President Donald Trump. This election, much like previous ones, was not determined by the popular vote but by the Electoral College system comprised of 538 delegates, requiring a majority of 270 to secure the presidency.
The battleground states—Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Nevada—emerged as crucial to the election outcome, with polls showing a neck-and-neck race. Approximately 244 million Americans were eligible to vote in these elections, and a significant number, about 80 million, had already cast their ballots through early voting.
On the same day, the American electorate also voted for the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate, along with numerous gubernatorial and mayoral races. Key state initiatives regarding reproductive rights and other legal amendments were also on the ballot, capturing public attention amidst heightened security and election oversight to ensure the integrity of the voting process.
The Justice Department deployed electoral observers across 86 jurisdictions in 27 states, highlighting the importance of secure and transparent elections as the world watched the unfolding political drama in the United States.