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.
Supreme Court Will Hear Lawsuit Over Blaming Oil Companies for Climate Change
‘Smarter Than Most of You!’: Biden Launches Bizarre Defense of His Stuttering at Jesse Jackson Memorial Service
FBI captures Bangladeshi fugitive extradited in massive online child sextortion case
Shark attack deaths surge above decade average in 2025
Trump says ‘hatred’ between Putin, Zelenskyy blocking Ukraine peace deal
Trump touts US has ‘tremendous’ amount of Venezuelan oil, vows to ‘take care’ of Cuba after Iran focus
Major Hospital Stops Providing Some Trans Surgeries to Adults
Florida Democrat Insults Charlie Kirk’s Memory in Disgusting Protest of Day of Remembrance
Newsom rips Noem as ‘Kosplay Barbie’ over $220M ad campaign, demands DHS release $500M for LA wildfires
In an Unexpected SCOTUS Moment, Justice Gorsuch Educated the Court on How Much Founding Fathers Drank – It Was Apparently a Lot
Teens inspired by ‘Scream’ recorded ‘first kill’ plot before stabbing classmate to death
White Cops in Philadelphia Sue City Over Alleged Racial Discrimination
Vocal anti-Trump Dem reveals which industry is trying to oust him from House seat: ‘I was a target’
Driver accused of attempting to mow down cop during street takeover strolls free hours later on $3K bond
Revealed: The Epic 3-Word Message That Popped Up on Potentially Millions of Israeli-Hacked Iranian Phones Just Before the Bombs Dropped
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.
