Trump Says Cartels Have 'Very Strong Control Over Mexico': 'Can't Let That Happen'

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that cartels have "very strong control over Mexico," reiterating his claim about the criminal organizations' influence in the country.

Trump made the statement while signing a law aimed at fighting fentanyl trafficking. He added that "Mexican authorities are petrified to show up at their office, to go to work because cartels have a tremendous grip" on the country and its politicians. "Can't let that happen," he added.

Trump had also announced on Saturday the imposition of 30% tariffs on imports from the country as of August 1 over claims that it's not doing enough to prevent the region from becoming a "Narco-Trafficking Playground."

Even though Mexico has been "helping" him increase border security, it was "not enough," Trump said.

"If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 30% that we charge. Also, I must mention that the flow of Fentanyl is hardly the only challenge we have with Mexico, which has many Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, which cause unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. The Trade Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!" reads a passage of the letter he sent to his counterpart, Claudia Sheinbaum.

Mexico reacted quickly to Trump's tariff announcement on Saturday, saying it was already taking steps to address the matter. Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard posted a statement from the Economy and Foreign Ministries, noting that on Friday a Mexican delegation had already met with U.S. counterparts to kick off a "permanent binational working table in which the main topics of the relations will be addressed."

"It is highly relevant having already established the necessary space to prevent any chance the measures will go into effect on August 1. In other words, Mexico is already negotiating," the document added.

Sheinbaum, on her end, responded to the decision on Monday, saying during her daily press conference that the U.S. also has to "do its part" on the matter, especially regarding the pursuit of suspects and addressing the flow of weapons to Mexico.

"We have insisted on matters related to controlling the flow of weapons from the U.S. into Mexico, on the arrest of people involved in drug trafficking in the U.S., and on the responsibilities that belong to the United States," Sheinbaum claimed.