Donald Trump, former president and Republican candidate, warned that he will apply 25% tariffs to Mexico if the country does not stop the flow of migrants at the border. He described this situation as an “onslaught” of “criminals” and “drugs” in the context of a very competitive electoral contest.
Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would apply a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico if President Claudia Sheinbaum does not control what he described as an “avalanche of criminals and drugs” to the United States. In the context of a tight election, Trump made this statement while he is in a technical tie with Kamala Harris in the presidential race in the United States.
During a rally in North Carolina, Donald Trump declared that “Mexico is invading us,” but that now the country has a new president. “She is supposed to be a very nice woman, they say. I don’t know her. And I’m going to inform you on day one or before that if you don’t stop this flood of criminals and drugs coming into our country, I’m going to immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything you send to the United States of America,” he said.
In his first administration, Trump fulfilled his campaign promise to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), introducing changes to labor issues, rules of origin for the automotive industry, and a clause to review the agreement periodically. This resulted in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), in force since July 2020.
Trump added that this tariff measure had “a 100% chance of working” and that, if it did not get the desired response, he would periodically increase tariffs at the same rate.
Donald Trump has promised to significantly raise tariffs on US imports from various countries, proposing a range of between 10% and 20%, and in the specific case of China, proposing an increase to 60%. The trade and technology war between the United States and China, which began during his administration, has continued in the current presidency of Joe Biden.
As for Mexico, during his previous campaign, Trump promised to end NAFTA, although he ultimately did not eliminate it. Later, as President, he praised the T-MEC as the best free trade agreement.
Sergio Contreras, president of the Mexican Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce), observed that Trump used to adopt positions during election times, which he adjusted once in the presidency.
Trump is a person who talks a lot and when it is necessary to make decisions he does not shoot himself in the foot,” Contreras said last October.
With increasing productive integration in North America, Mexico became the United States’ main trading partner in 2023 and has maintained this position in 2024, surpassing China in this strategic relationship.
Fentanyl in the spotlight
During a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump said he plans to apply the same policy to China, accusing it of sending fentanyl to the United States through Mexico. “We want a good relationship with China (…), but if they sell fentanyl through Mexico, we will put a 25% tariff on it until they stop that practice,” he said.
Trump also mentioned that he would do the same with Mexico if it does not stop the entry of this drug into the United States. “They will probably have to make a deal with the cartels, since the cartels have absolute control in Mexico,” he said.
Closing of campaign
At his final campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Trump proclaimed: “I’ve been waiting for this for four years! And so have you.” He said that with these elections, the people can prove “once and for all” that “this nation does not belong to them. It belongs to you.”
At another event in North Carolina, he insisted: “If we get everyone to vote, there will be nothing they can do.” As usual, the businessman spoke out strongly against irregular migration.
