Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) stated Tuesday that President-elect Trump’s tariffs “will definitely get Mexico to the table” to unravel immigration and fentanyl issues.
“If it means a 25 percent tariff to potentially fix the border, would you favor that?” NewsNation’s Blake Burman requested Cuellar in a “The Hill” interview.
“Well, let me put it this way: Laredo’s the largest port; we handle 40 percent of all the trade between the U.S. and Mexico. I know this is a way to negotiate, get some leverage. I know that Mexico will come to the table,” Cuellar responded.
“But nobody wants a 25 percent tariff on ‘em, and the Mexicans are threatening to do the same thing, and we don’t wanna get into that,” he continued. “But I think this will definitely get Mexico to the table so we can solve the problem about immigration and fentanyl.”
On Monday, Trump stated he would problem an government order imposing contemporary tariffs initially of his subsequent time period on Chinese language, Canadian and Mexican items.
The president-elect stated in posts on Fact Social that he would enact 25 p.c tariffs on Canadian and Mexican items, whereas including an additional 10 p.c tariff on Chinese language items. The intention of the tariffs, in accordance with Trump, is to press the international locations to extend their efforts on border safety and combating fentanyl exports to the U.S.
“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” Trump stated on Fact Social.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) criticized Trump’s tariff threats on Tuesday, saying he believes “that the president-elect has failed to really face the practical consequences.”
“I think he’s heading toward a real horror show where the consequences can’t be squared with the promises he made,” Blumenthal added in an look on CNN. “For example, slashing government spending at the same time as preserving Medicare and Medicaid.”
The Hill has reached out to the Mexican authorities for remark.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which additionally owns The Hill.
