*

Sheinbaum and Trump discuss migration and drug

trafficking, not

tariffs

*

Mexican peso strengthens after Sheinbaum-Trump call

*

Some analysts see tariffs as negotiation tactic before

USMCA

review

(Updates throughout with comments from Sheinbaum, context on

trade, response from Canada)

By Sarah Morland and Ana Isabel Martinez

MEXICO CITY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Mexico's President

Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday she and U.S. President-elect

Donald Trump had agreed to maintain a good relationship in a

friendly phone call that appeared to ease tensions between the

top trading partners amid tariff threats.

Sheinbaum struck a more conciliatory tone a day after saying

Mexico would retaliate if Trump carries out his pledge to impose

a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian imports.

"It was a good conversation and we are going to keep having

conversations," Sheinbaum told a morning press conference, in

which she said the two had not directly discussed tariffs but

talked about the reasons Trump gave for potentially implementing

them - illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking.

"It was a very friendly conversation," Sheinbaum added. "We

agreed there would be a good relationship."

The Mexican peso strengthened close to 1% early on Thursday,

after weakening in recent days.

Trump's proposed tariffs would appear to contravene the

U.S.-Mexico-Canada free-trade pact, which Trump signed during

his first term and is up for review in 2026.

Following Wednesday's call, Trump said on social-media

platform Truth Social that Sheinbaum had "agreed to stop

migration through Mexico, and into the United States,

effectively closing our Southern Border."

Sheinbaum appeared to refute this on X, saying they had

discussed Mexico's strategies to curtail migration into the U.S.

but Mexico's policy was "not to close borders, but to build

bridges between governments and their peoples."

Addressing the apparent discrepancy, Sheinbaum told

reporters it came down to different communication styles.

"I can assure you we would never close the Mexico-U.S.

border."

Mexico has in recent months increased enforcement

significantly, helping keep down numbers of migrants arriving at

the U.S. border.

Sheinbaum said Mexican authorities were attending to a

caravan near Pijijiapan in southern Chiapas state, which

immigration authorities estimate at some 800 people. "This

caravan is not going to reach the north," she said.

Some analysts have said they believe the tariffs proposal -

which they expect would push up U.S. consumer prices - is a

negotiation tactic ahead of the USMCA review.

Mexico accounted for 15.9% of U.S. trade in the first nine

months of this year, followed by Canada at 14.4% and China at

10.8%. Trump also suggested 25% tariffs on Canada and "an

additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs" on China.

While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called for

unity and work on the trade relationship, some Canadian

officials reacted strongly to Trump's proposal.

"To compare us to Mexico is the most insulting thing I've

ever heard from our friends and closest allies," Ontario Premier

Doug Ford told media this week. "It's like a family member

stabbed you right in the heart."

Mexican leaders have called for greater regional

cooperation, dialogue and integration.

Earlier on Thursday, Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard

told reporters he did not believe it was likely the U.S. would

impose the proposed tariffs as it would be costly on both sides

of the border.