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.
Guards at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ beat, pepper-sprayed detainees, lawyer says
‘We’re taxing the rich’: NYC Mayor Mamdani touts new $500M-a-year tax on luxury second homes
Navy reservist accused of murdering wife and hiding her body in freezer arrested after international manhunt
Watch: Comedian Dave Chappelle Refuses to Let NPR Reporter Shame Him for Trans Jokes
Sotomayor walks back remarks criticizing Kavanaugh, says comments were ‘inappropriate’
Bessent says Trump tariffs could return by July after Supreme Court setback
Leftist Darlng Hasan Piker Given Chance to Walk Back Hamas Sympathy – Instead, He Says He’d ‘Vote’ for Them
BREAKING: Whistleblower Who Helped Kick off Trump Impeachment Has Been Hit with Criminal Referrals
Democratic secretary of state was ‘prepared’ for FBI raid in Arizona, emails show
Swalwell Scandal Reveals ‘How the Democrat Party Controls Its Members Through Blackmail,’ Stephen Miller Says
Melania Trump challenges Congress to make her foster care executive order permanent law: ‘Their birthright’
Chilling Claim from Ex-Congressman: The House Page Program Was Cut Because Kids Were Being ‘Assaulted’ by Lawmakers
Spanberger receives DHS plea to hold illegal immigrant repeat offender now charged in attempted rape
ODNI sends criminal referrals to DOJ for ex-IG, whistleblower tied to Trump impeachment
Catholic JFK Laid Out How Presidents Should Deal With Papal Criticism in Famous 1960 Speech
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.
