This is how to negotiate with Trump in five simple steps

Mexico is the only country in the world to have obtained a postponement of 90 days for the establishment of customs duties, although its trade surplus vis-à-vis the United States is significantly higher than that of Switzerland. How was it possible?

Natasha Hähni / ch media

Donald Trump did not flank. Despite its attempts, Switzerland has failed to lower American customs duties by 39% that have been applying to our country since August 7.

For her part, Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, did better: she succeeded in a diplomatic blow by obtaining a 90 -day stay, a case unique in the world. And all while the trade deficit of the United States with Mexico is much more important than with Switzerland. But how did she do it?

First asset: his personality, which pleases the American president. After her interview with Karin Keller-Sutter, Trump qualified her as “kind” but said that she did not listen, and that, anyway, he did not know her. On the other hand, the American president finds Claudia Sheinbaum “formidable” and even declared publicly that he had “a lot of respect” for her. A surprising contrast because, on paper, this rather introverted left climatologist has nothing in common with the Republican.

For his next attempt to counter Trump’s customs duties, Karin Keller-Sutter might be alleged to be inspired by the Mexican president. This applies five special tactics in its exchanges with Trump, and they seem to bear fruit.

Approach the economy differently

Trump does not separate political files: for him, trade is inseparable from immigration, the fight against drugs and security issues. Claudia Sheinbaum understood this and offered substantial concessions on themes dear to Trump, such as the fight against fentanyl traffic and border strengthening.

To make the American president more conciliatory, she sent 10,000 soldiers to the northern border, extradited alleged members of a drug cartel and presented all this as a Mexican initiative. You will understand: the one who talks only about economy with Trump negotiates in mid-voice. But the one who gives him concessions on his favorite political themes gains influence.

She controls communication

Claudia Sheinbaum never met Trump in the Oval Office. Instead, she regularly speaks to him on the phone, far from spontaneous cameras and clashes. It thus avoids public humiliations than others, like the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, suffered in Washington.

Using channels that you control yourself and which Trump cannot abuse to give himself, we can avoid many unnecessary negative titles in negotiations with him.

She takes Trump to the word

In Switzerland, Trump has not been taken long, thinking that he was not going to apply his pricing threats to customs duties. During a telephone interview, Trump said Keller-Sutter was not listening to him. “I have listened to her,” she contradicted her trip to the United States this week.

Only, this statement did not go up to Trump. However, the President likes rapid superlatives and successes. Claudia Sheinbaum plays this by resuming her own statements and then presenting tangible results. With the help of statistics from the United States, it has shown that fentanyl discoveries on the border had decreased. She therefore forces Trump to continue the story of her own success, and to present Mexico as by being part.

She remains calm and always has a plan B

Even when Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico “Gulf of America”, Claudia Sheinbaum kept silent, although it caused a real outcry in Mexico.

The president does not react impulsively and thus avoids that secondary subjects determine her political agenda. But behind the scenes, she still prepares alternatives in the event of climbing from Trump. It lets occasional provocations pass, but is always ready to intervene if the tone rises.

She knows how flattery work

Claudia Scheinbaum knows that with Trump, nothing has more impact than a well -placed compliment. During her telephone calls, she praised her “leadership”, avoids any criticism and makes her feel that it is he who decides, which earned her the image of “the one who whispers in Trump’s ear”.

It may seem exaggerated, but in the meantime, it has served him. In Trump’s world, feelings often count more than facts. By strengthening your ego, you save precious time and space to defend your own objectives.

But flattery only could not prevent Swiss customs duties by 39%. And Claudia Sheinbaum, as tactical as it is, only obtained a postponement from customs duties. It remains to be seen what will remain in 90 days. But in a few months, she showed that it was possible to negotiate with Trump without humiliating publicly, an approach that also earned her support in Mexico, where Trump is even more frowned upon than in Switzerland.

Translated from German by Anne Castella