Vice President Pence on Wednesday will meet with top Mexican officials who are seeking to persuade the Trump administration to abandon plans to impose sweeping tariffs that leaders on both sides of the border warn could damage the continent’s economy.
Frustrated by increasing levels of illegal migration, an issue he pledged to address during the 2016 campaign, Trump suddenly announced last week he would slap a 5 percent tariff on all Mexican goods beginning on Monday, tariffs which could rise to 25 percent by October unless Mexico cracks down on illegal border crossings.
Trump said Tuesday during a press conference in London that “it’s more likely that the tariffs go on” according to schedule, dimming hopes for a quick resolution during Wednesday’s meeting at the White House.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard plans to argue that his country has already taken steps to detain more migrants as well as other steps designed to prevent them from crossing into the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left Trump’s trip in Europe to attend the meeting in Washington. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is also expected to be in attendance.
Mexican officials to meet with Pence in last-ditch effort to avert tariffs
pence with cbp by U.S. Customs and Border Protection by Robert Bushell is licensed under Flickr U.S. Government Work
Source:
The Hill
pence with cbp by U.S. Customs and Border Protection by Robert Bushell is licensed under Flickr U.S. Government Work