President Trump Sunday derided Mexico’s effort to negotiate away his threat to impose 5% tariffs, calling the nation an “abuser” of the United States and declaring, “America has had enough.”
“People have been saying for years that we should talk to Mexico. The problem is that Mexico is an ‘abuser’ of the United States, taking but never giving. It has been this way for decades,” Trump said on Twitter. “Either they stop the invasion of our Country, “[W]hich they can do very easily, or our many companies and jobs that have been foolishly allowed to move South of the Border, will be brought back into the United States through taxation (Tariffs). America has had enough!”
….Coyotes and Illegal Immigrants, which they can do very easily, or our many companies and jobs that have been foolishly allowed to move South of the Border, will be brought back into the United States through taxation (Tariffs). America has had enough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2019
Nevertheless, later on Sunday morning, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would indeed meet with Mexican officials.
And then, following Mulvaney’s remarks, Trump reiterated via tweet his lack of enthusiasm for negotiations.
“Mexico is sending a big delegation to talk about the Border. Problem is, they’ve been ‘talking’ for 25 years. We want action, not talk. They could solve the Border Crisis in one day if they so desired,” Trump said.
Mexico is sending a big delegation to talk about the Border. Problem is, they’ve been “talking” for 25 years. We want action, not talk. They could solve the Border Crisis in one day if they so desired. Otherwise, our companies and jobs are coming back to the USA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2019
Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Thursday that he would send a delegation to Washington headed by Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard to try and negotiate a deal after Trump’s tariff threat.
“President Trump, social problems are not resolved with taxes or coercive measures,” López Obrador said in a scathing letter to Trump, blaming the U.S. president for being inhospitable to immigrants.
In a Friday press conference, López Obrador took a slightly more conciliatory tone towards Trump.
“We are going to act with prudence, with respect for the authorities of the United States, with respect for President Donald Trump,” he said.
Trump said Thursday that the U.S. would be placing an immediate 5% tariff on Mexican goods with a 5% increase every month until Mexico dealt with illegal migrants traveling through Mexico to the United States.
“On June 10th, the United States will impose a 5% Tariff on all goods coming into our Country from Mexico, until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP. The Tariff will gradually increase until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied,” Trump said.
….at which time the Tariffs will be removed. Details from the White House to follow.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2019
