United States elections 2024the Republican candidate Donald Trump threatened the president Claudia Sheinbaum with imposing 25 percent tariffs on Mexico; this if you don’t strengthen border security with the United States.
Donald Trump’s statements were made today, Monday, January 4, during a rally in the state of North Carolina, despite the fact that Mexico is the main trading partner of USA and such a measure would imply risks for both countries.
In this framework, it is worth remembering that the elections USA 2024 will be carried out tomorrow Tuesday November 5 in a day in Donald Trump will compete with Kamala Harriscandidate of the Democratic Party, after Joe Biden decided to get out of the presidential race.
Donald Trump threatens Claudia Shienbaum with imposing 25% tariffs on Mexico if she does not stop the flow of migrants
Donald Trump issued a threat against Claudia Sheinbaum in case the flow of migrants to the United States is not stopped, which is why he said he will impose 25% tariffs on Mexico if he becomes president.
At a rally in the state of North Carolina, the former president of the United States said he did not yet know the president of Mexico, but described her as “a very nice woman, they say”. However, he stated that from the first day of his hypothetical administration he would impose said measure:
“Mexico is invading us, but now we have a new president in Mexico. She is supposed to be a very nice woman, they say. I don’t know her. And I am going to inform you on the first day or sooner that if you do not stop this avalanche of criminals and drugs coming into our country, I am going to immediately impose a 25 percent tariff on everything you send to the United States of America.”
Donald Trump
At the same event, Donald Trump considered that this plan has “100 percent chance of working” He said that if he did not obtain a favorable response, taxes would increase, and he also reiterated his intentions to complete the wall that divides the border between Mexico and the United States.
Claudia Sheinbaum sends Donald Trump a message: “The United States already depends a lot on Mexico”
Claudia Sheinbaum sent a message to Donald Trump on October 11, on the eve of the United States 2024 elections, an event for which the president of Mexico assured that a negotiation agreement for the T-MEC will be reached.
“We are going to agree. They are in a campaign, obviously there is also greater stridency in one direction or another, but they know and we know that an agreement is essential, within the framework of our sovereignty.”
Claudia Sheinbaum
What Sheinbaum Pardo said was in response to Trump’s statements during a speech in Michigan in October 2024, in which he said that will invoke the renegotiation clause six years after the agreement.
In that sense, the president explained that at present:
“The United States already depends a lot on Mexico (…) We are the main exporter (to the United States) and we also have a very important relationship with the economies, our objective is also for this to advance towards Central and South America to be able to do more a greater strength of the entire continent without closing us to other markets”
Claudia Sheinbaum
As described on the Government of Mexico site in 2016, when Mexico was the second largest trading partner of the US, six million US jobs depended on trade with Mexico and every minute nearly a million dollars were traded.
Interviewer: Welcome to Time.news. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Alejandro Torres, an expert in international trade and U.S.-Mexico relations. Dr. Torres, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Torres: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Interviewer: We’ve seen headlines about Donald Trump’s recent threats to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico if the flow of migrants isn’t controlled. He made these statements during a rally in North Carolina, framing them in the context of his potential return to the presidency. What are your initial thoughts on this stance?
Dr. Torres: Well, it’s certainly a provocative statement. Trump’s rhetoric taps into his core issue of border security, which resonates with many of his supporters. However, the economic implications could be quite severe, not just for Mexico but for the United States as well, given the deep trade ties between the two countries.
Interviewer: Speaking of those economic ties, Trump mentioned that “Mexico is invading us.” How do you assess this characterization considering Mexico is the U.S.’s main trading partner?
Dr. Torres: The language is quite charged. While it’s true that issues of migration and border security are pressing, framing it as an “invasion” ignores the complexities of migration, which often stems from socio-economic challenges within Central America and Mexico itself. Moreover, economic dependency is mutual; imposing tariffs would raise costs for U.S. consumers and disrupt supply chains for industries that rely heavily on Mexican imports.
Interviewer: Trump claims there’s a “100 percent chance” his plan would work. How viable do you think his proposal is from an economic and diplomatic perspective?
Dr. Torres: The assertion is overly simplistic. Tariffs may offer a quick, visible tool for political discourse, but the reality is more nuanced. Imposing tariffs could lead to retaliatory measures from Mexico, hurting American exporters and potentially leading to job losses in U.S. industries dependent on trade with Mexico. Diplomatically, threats of tariffs could sour relations and undermine ongoing cooperation on issues like trade, security, and immigration.
Interviewer: Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, pushed back against Trump’s statement, highlighting that the United States already relies heavily on Mexico. What does her response tell us about the current state of U.S.-Mexico relations?
Dr. Torres: Sheinbaum’s response is a reminder of the interconnectedness of our economies. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), previously the NAFTA, was designed to enhance trade relations, not strain them. It’s crucial for both nations to communicate and negotiate rather than resort to threats. Effective dialogue would be more beneficial than tariff escalations.
Interviewer: With the U.S. elections approaching and Joe Biden stepping out of the race, how might Trump’s tactics influence voter sentiment on immigration and border security?
Dr. Torres: Immigration remains a polarizing topic in U.S. politics. Trump’s aggressive stance could galvanize his voter base, especially those who prioritize border security. However, it’s also possible it could alienate moderate voters who prefer diplomatic and comprehensive solutions to immigration reform. It will ultimately depend on how these issues resonate with voters in the states that are pivotal in the election.
Interviewer: Lastly, what can we expect in terms of U.S.-Mexico relations if Trump were to return to the presidency based on the current trajectory of his rhetoric?
Dr. Torres: If Trump were to return, it’s likely we would see a continuation of strong rhetoric surrounding border security and migration. Policies may revert to a harder line, which could lead to increased tensions. However, underlying realities such as deep economic ties may force a more pragmatic approach behind the scenes, even if public rhetoric remains strident.
Interviewer: Thank you, Dr. Torres, for your insights on this critical issue. It will be interesting to see how these dynamics play out as we approach the elections and beyond.
Dr. Torres: Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure discussing these important topics.