President Donald Trump poured cold water on the idea that the U.S. and Mexico might reach an agreement by the end of the week that would avoid a 5 percent tariff going into effect on Mexican imports.
“I think it’s more likely that the tariffs go on,” Trump said at a press conference during a state visit to London.
Trump’s comment was in stark contrast to the hopeful comments from Mexican officials that an agreement would be reached.
“I think that we have 80 percent in favor of a negotiation [that would stop tariffs from being implemented], 20 percent that maybe it’s difficult to reach an agreement,” Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Tuesday at a press conference at the Mexican Embassy in Washington. “I’d suppose that the imposition of tariffs can be avoided.”
Last week, Trump made a surprise announcement that the U.S. would initiate a 5 percent tariff on imports from Mexico unless Mexico does more to stop the cascade of people from Central America crossing its territory to reach the U.S. Trump said the tariffs would kick-in on June 10 and rise 5 percent per month, reach 25 percent by October.
New York Democrat Accused of Attacking Opponent’s Mother Inside Bathroom: ‘Not Fit to Serve’
White House Wants Karoline Leavitt’s Help Finding New Press Secretary After Katie Zacharia Disaster
NYC votes to end nearly 170-year-old horse carriage tradition as Trump blasts ban, drivers threaten lawsuit
DOJ opens investigation into Trump ally Corey Lewandowski
Musk: Austin Shooter Was Fired by Tesla After He Struck Woman Who ‘Accidentally Stepped on His Prayer Rug’
Over 100 arrested in California after $2 billion state-federal healthcare fraud crackdowns
Fox News Poll: Nail-biter in Maine Senate race
Man accused of smashing Iwo Jima statue with sledgehammer in Quantico
Trump rally exposes surprising cracks in MAGA base as Republicans face midterm test
Watch: Mike Rogers Stops Abdul El-Sayed in His Tracks When He Attempts ‘Victim’ Strategy During Debate
Italy and Spain end border crisis sparked by Ceuta invasion, but approximately 15,000 migrants still demand asylum
Dozens Taken to Hospital, Days-Long Evacuation in Effect as Massive Chemical Leak Plagues Ohio City
Lindsay Clancy’s Lawyer Slapped Down by Judge For Trying to Investigate Holdout Juror and Examine His Phone
Ilhan Omar is not the Minnesota congresswoman’s ‘real name’: sources
Australia pastor case ‘canary in the coal mine’ for American Christian freedoms: TPUSA leader
On Tuesday in London, Trump reiterated those plans. He also said that he did not think Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill would act to block the tariffs, saying it would be “foolish” to do so.
Trump has told close aides in similar situations that he thinks it is often necessary to apply tariffs first and negotiate deals afterward in order to prove he is not bluffing. He sees tariffs as motivating other countries that want access to U.S. consumers to make concessions in negotiations.
Story cited here.
