The presidents of the United States and Mexico have spoken by phone after relations between the neighbouring countries frayed over Donald Trump's border wall plan.
The call between Trump and Enrique Pena Nieto came a day after the Mexican president scrapped a meeting set for next week at the White House over Trump's demand that Mexico pay for the wall, which Mexico refuses to do.
Mexico's government statement released after the meeting said Trump and Pena Nieto agreed not to talk publicly for now about payment for the wall.
During a joint news conference at the White House with visiting British Prime Minister Theresa May after the call, Trump did not mention the wall even as he spoke expansively about U.S. relations with Mexico.
"As you know, Mexico ... has out-negotiated us and beat us to a pulp through our past leaders. They've made us look foolish," Trump told the news conference.
"We have a trade deficit of $US60 billion ($A79 billion) with Mexico. On top of that, the border is soft and weak, drugs are pouring in," added Trump, who during the US presidential campaign accused Mexico of sending rapists and other criminals into the United States.
Trump called his hour-long talk with Pena Nieto "very, very friendly," said he has a "very good relationship" with him and expressed "great respect for Mexico."
Nevertheless, Trump showed no signs of backing off pledges to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada and slap high tariffs on American companies that have moved jobs south of the border.
Mexico sends 80 per cent of its exports to the United States, and about half of Mexico's foreign direct investment over the past two decades has come from its northern neighbor.
"We are going to be working on a fair relationship and a new relationship" with Mexico, Trump told the news conference with May.
"But the United States cannot continue to lose vast amounts of business, vast amounts of companies and millions and millions of people losing their jobs. That won't happen with me."
Trump said the United States will renegotiate trade deals and other aspects of America's relationship with Mexico, adding, "And in the end I think it will be good for both countries."
Trump signed a directive on Wednesday for the wall to proceed, but Mexico has long insisted it will not heed Trump's demands to pay for it.
The White House said Friday's call also covered "the importance of the friendship between the two nations, and the need for the two nations to work together to stop drug cartels, drug trafficking and illegal guns and arms sales."
