President Trump announced that he will begin imposing tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico beginning June 10 unless that country does more to help reduce illegal immigration from Central America. In a statement issued late Thursday, the president cited his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and said the crisis at the southern border requires action.
Trump added that unless the Mexican government takes steps to “dramatically reduce or eliminate” the flow of Central American migrants moving through its country, tariffs will go to 15% on August 1, to 20% on Sept. 1, and to 25% on Oct. 1. “Tariffs will permanently remain at the 25 percent level unless and until Mexico substantially stops the illegal inflow of aliens coming through its territory,” he wrote.
Mexico’s deputy foreign minister for North America, Jesus Seade, said that it would be disastrous if Trump imposed the new tariffs.
Good! If Congress had been doing its job instead of ignoring the problem we would not be at this juncture. To one party though it is more about votes (legal citizens and illegal aliens) than national security, it is more about making the president look bad than national security. Big business opposes tariffs because it affects their bottom line. The average citizen that cannot afford bodyguards and expensive security systems wants border security. The people going through the legal channels for citizenship want border security. The United States of America is a sovereign nation and as such has the absolute right to secure her borders.