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.
Sanders becomes first senator to say Israel committing genocide in Gaza
Judge orders Mahmoud Khalil deported to Algeria or Syria
Immigration judge orders deportation of Mahmoud Khalil to Syria or Algeria
Cornell MBA council warns ‘non-marginalized’ students to avoid minority recruiting events: report
Spirit Airlines pilot scolded after straying too close to Trump’s Air Force One
What Saved the US in the Late 1960s Appears to Be Happening Again, Particularly After Kirk’s Assassination
New Hampshire daycare worker who secretly gave kids melatonin spared jail
Trump to designate antifa a ‘major terrorist organization’
Breaking: Kimmel Booted from Air Over Kirk Comments, ABC to ‘Replace the Show with Other Programming’
Alert: Multiple Officers Down in PA Shooting, Mexican Consulate Issues Strange Message Immediately After
ABC pulls Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely following Charlie Kirk comments
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Kash clashes with the Senate
Cruz doubles down against groups funding Charlie Kirk protests; FBI director backs bill during hearing
Mother and Her Two Teen Daughters Stabbed in Their Own Apartment in the Middle of the Night
Pastor: Charlie Kirk’s graphic death was ‘traumatic’ as many Americans reconcile with loss
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.
