Trump announces tariffs on all Mexico goods in latest anti-immigration measure
In a tweet, Mr Trump said that from 10 June a 5% tariff would be imposed and would slowly rise “until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied”.
President Trump has declared a national emergency to tackle what he claims is a crisis at the US southern border.
Border agents say they are overwhelmed, but critics say they are mishandling and mistreating migrants.
Jesus Seade, Mexico’s top diplomat for North America, said the the tariffs would be “disastrous”.
“If this is put in place, we must respond vigorously,” he told reporters.
During his election campaign and throughout his time in office, President Trump has sought funds to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.
He declared a national emergency in February in an attempt to divert federal funds for a barrier wall, but a judge blocked his efforts in May.
The White House said on Thursday that the president would use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement the new tariffs on Mexico.
The announcement came the same day that the White House told Congress it planned to pursue a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada.
What did Trump announce?
In a White House statement, Trump said the tariffs would rise by 5% each month until October 1, when the rate would reach 25%.
The tariffs would stay at that level “unless and until Mexico substantially stops the illegal inflow of aliens coming through its territory”, he said.
“For years, Mexico has not treated us fairly – but we are now asserting our rights as a sovereign Nation,” the statement said.
The president also took aim at his Democratic opponents, accusing them of a “total dereliction of duty” over border security.
The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is taking legal action to halt the Trump administration’s efforts to build a border wall, saying it would be a waste of funds and would not stop illegal immigration.
Critics say border agents are taking a heavy-handed approach under the Trump administration to controlling migration at the US-Mexico border, pointing to the deaths of six migrant children in US custody since September.
What will the tariffs affect?
Mexico is known for agricultural products like avocados and tequila, but the country is also a major manufacturing hub and home to many US companies.
The country produces hundreds of thousands of cars every month, and is also home to technology and aerospace companies. It is one of the G20 economies.
US firms Ford, General Motors, John Deere, IBM and Coca Cola all operate in Mexico, as well as thousands of other multinationals.
Well done that man – give Trump a DB
For Mexico to accept dirty money from the Bond villain Soros to facilitate the
invading armymigrant caravan is an act of war against their neighbour.Why wouldn’t the USA use their economic power to punish a hostile neighbour? With half the Democrat leadership being bank-rolled by the drug cartels to keep the border open, the migrant caravans provide the perfect cover for drug-running mules.
No point having a big stick if you are too cucked to use it.
Greatest President ever and meanwhile in poor old NZ we have the diversity leader and our Venezualan future keeps on getting closer … and closer … and closer.
Nobody expected that. A clever and ballsy move.
Well if you has been watching he has warned them for months. The issue now is made worse because the Chinese have been re routing their exports via Vietnam and Mexico so expect some more tariff raising.
I assume that American companies that set up in Mexico was in some part to take advantage of the labour force available and to stop the need for crossing the border?
The USA is so flooded with them-millions upon millions- that once they sneak in you’ll never know the difference. They want Gringo dollars to send back to Shitsville, a welfare check, and in California, free tertiary education! White, US-born natives need not apply. You pay. Even the legal ones still speak Spanish. NZ would consider it utter madness if it were happening here. That border has been a corrupt mess forever. Give it to ’em Trump! Hit where it hurts. Money.
‘NZ would consider it utter madness ‘. Would this government though? NZer’s themselves might, but I see a disconnect.
NZ’s entire population is one Latino neighbourhood in L.A. We’d be overwhelmed, and this place unrecognizable, in no time! Good to have a massive moat full of sharks around NZ lol.
Thursday night on Prime TV there was a ‘Boarder Force’ programme on the southern boarder of the USA, their largest boarder crossing. There are five bridges which those wishing to enter the USA legally must cross. All five bridges were laden with cars, trucks and pedestrians waiting to pass through checks with the 5000 customs/boarder guards. It is an enormous daily undertaking. As well as the legitimate travellers’ the boarder guards are preventing terrorists, drugs and illegal weapons from entering the USA.
I’d be seeking advice from Israeli consultants on fences and border security 🙂 Now THAT’S how you do it….they draw a line and woe unto you if you cross it. NO f*ckin around!
The Mexicans blinked within 24 hrs and have asked for an emergency meeting with Trump. So Trump got what he wanted very quickly –he wanted the Mexicans to sit up and actually take notice and listen. Now the real work can take place.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Datawatch/Chinese-goods-navigate-alternate-trade-routes-to-US-shores?fbclid=IwAR0Qw_AlVHxUlWyER0rGSUpQfC0ajnrFm2x3Z0dcT0ormtAW2ttzhOoKMw8