President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke by phone on Sept. 16 as the United States and Mexico worked toward a bilateral trade agreement ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Sheinbaum said on Sept. 18 that the call was very good and that progress was being made toward a possible deal, but she did not disclose its terms. Earlier accounts differed, with one person familiar with the conversation describing it as so-so and a U.S. official calling it constructive. Bilateral negotiations under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement have continued through ministerial talks, with working-level discussions scheduled in Washington for Sept. 28 and 29. Expected topics include measures targeting Chinese-made components used in artificial intelligence equipment, along with steel and automobile tariffs.