Just hours after I predicted it, Trump satisfies it, as CNN is reporting:
President Donald Trump said tariffs on Mexican goods are “indefinitely suspended” after negotiators from the US and Mexico were able to reach a deal on immigration enforcement.
“I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico,” Trump tweeted Friday. “The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended.”
The announcement was a dramatic reversal of a sudden tariff threat that Trump himself announced last week in an attempt to put more pressure on the Mexican government to stem the flow of migrants into the US. Trump spent much of the intervening period out of the country, visiting with European leaders and attending a state dinner in the United Kingdom, while US and Mexican negotiators worked feverishly in Washington to avoid another escalation in his foreign trade wars.
Sure, another big win – or so will go the narrative.
Too bad the Mexican officials didn’t dare to test Trump’s goofball threat. Even worse, unless the Federales are going to chase down immigrants and kill them, they won’t stop coming. The problems at home are too great to discourage most of them. And we’re not addressing those problems, either, so why should expect this to work?
Another thought: now that President Trump knows that threats of tariffs on Mexican goods will enforce his will on Mexico, will he try to use that threat again and again and again? Has Mexico screwed up big-time with this agreement? Or was Mexico wise enough to include a clause guaranteeing no tariffs will be imposed for the balance of the Trump presidency?
