I'm John Bucks with my good colleague, Professor Aben Ellis of the U.S. Army War College.

This is the New World Report, Mexico.

Walmart's profits dip 10% after consumption growth is tepid in Mexico.

That is a normal headline watching a very strong member of the North American

GDP. That would be Mexico. And the export import from the U.S. to Mexico is profound, quite apart

from the U.S.MCA, quite apart from the troubles with Canada. Mexico is a factory floor for the USA.

And yet, Professor, I have no election imminent and is reason to believe there'll not be

election romance, that is, excitement again with Marina firmly in control. And yet it's hard now

to measure Mexico and the Trump administration.

There's talk, and I've heard this just talk, that Claudio Scheinbaum's party, or perhaps

her administration, are ready to turn toward China and embrace China if the relationship with the U.S. deteriorates.

What is the status of the conversation between Washington and Mexico City quite apart from the

USMCA, which is due for, I think, revisions in near future?

Well, John, certainly the Claudia Steinbaum has been regarded as one of the leaders in the region

that has most successfully responded or at least interacted with President Trump, responding

with a certain amount of firmness, but deference that has really prevented the escalation of

rhetoric that you've seen with some others.

And yet, there are still a number of different issues which have led to multiple different

tariff threats and also other trade actions.

And so the most recent have to do with President Trump's renewal of emphasis on a lack of cooperation

on narco-trafficking that despite the extradition of

29 different wanted narcotraffickers to the United States and in other areas of cooperation.

...