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.
Trump Announces California’s Time Has Come – ‘Fraud Investigation’ Underway
Hillary Clinton Marks Jan. 6 with a Huge Lie About Trump’s Actions on the Day
Trump says Democrats are ‘meaner’ than Republicans, warns of impeachment if GOP loses midterms
Trump pitches cognitive tests for leaders, questions if Harris, Walz, Newsom could pass
Breaking: Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa Dies Suddenly at Age 65
CDC Significantly Alters Childhood Vaccine Schedule After ‘Exhaustive Review of the Evidence’
Iran rolls out $7 payments to quell affordability protests
Republican congressman hospitalized after car accident, sources say
Republicans rally behind Trump’s military strike to arrest Maduro as Democrats sound alarm: poll
Trial underway for former Uvalde school police officer accused of slow response to shooting
Frantic 911 calls detail moments before Columbus dentist and wife found dead: ‘There’s a body’
Maduro’s wife suffered ‘significant injuries’ in dramatic capture, attorney alleges
Trump rallies House GOP at Kennedy Center days after Maduro capture
Victor Davis Hanson Gives Health Update After Undergoing Major Operation
Donald Trump and 1980s Deja Vu: Maduro’s Capture Just Latest Example
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.
