Washington, D.C.–The U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined a chorus of businesses opposed to President Donald Trump’s threat of imposing tariffs on Mexican goods.
On Thursday, Trump posted on Twitter his proposal to impose a 5 percent tariff on all Mexican goods coming into the United States. The tariff would take effect on June 10.
Trump said the impose tariffs on Mexico is in response to the increase of illegal immigration into the United States southern border. He added that the tariffs will increase up to 25% until Mexico stems the tide of illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>On June 10th, the United States will impose a 5% Tariff on all goods coming into our Country from Mexico, until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP. The Tariff will gradually increase until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied,..</p>— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=”https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1134240653926232064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>May 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>….at which time the Tariffs will be removed. Details from the White House to follow.</p>— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=”https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1134240657621438464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>May 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, released a statement on the president’s proposed tariffs.
“Imposing tariffs on goods from Mexico is exactly the wrong move. These tariffs will be paid by American families and businesses without doing a thing to solve the very real problems at the border. Instead, Congress and the president need to work together to address the serious problems at the border.”
The National Retail Federation issued a statement from David French, senior vice president for government relations, in response to the Trump administration’s plans to impose a 5 percent tariff on all Mexican imports.
“The growing tariff bill paid by U.S. businesses and consumers is adding up and will raise the cost of living for American families. Forcing Americans to pay more for produce, electronics, auto parts and clothes isn’t the answer to the nation’s immigration challenges, and this certainly won’t help move USMCA forward.”
Jay Timmons, president and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers, released the following statement on the tariffs.
Manufacturers, like so many Americans and like President Trump, are frustrated with our broken immigration system and by the inaction that has led to a true humanitarian crisis. The answer to our broken system is a comprehensive, legislative solution, which manufacturers have offered in ‘A Way Forward.’ We continue to urge the administration and Congress to work together to address this crisis because the problem will not be solved just by blaming other countries. Intertwining difficult trade, tariff and immigration issues creates a Molotov cocktail of policy, and America’s manufacturing workers should not be forced to suffer because of the failure to fix our immigration system.
These proposed tariffs would have devastating consequences on manufacturers in America and on American consumers. We have taken our concerns to the highest levels of the administration and strongly urge them to consider carefully the impact of this action on working families across this country. Manufacturers have been working hard to secure passage of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, and the last thing we want to do is put that landmark deal—and the 2 million manufacturing jobs that depend on North American trade—in jeopardy.
We will continue to work with leaders on both sides of the aisle on immigration reform, just as we are working to continue our hard-won progress on the USMCA. We cannot afford to put the livelihoods of millions of Americans at risk at the same time.
Trump threatened to invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act if the migration crisis worsens on the U.S. southern border.
The Trump Administration said it will raise the tariffs to 10 percent in July 1 if Mexico has not taken action to reduce or eliminate the number of migrant crossings into the U.S. Tariffs will be increased to 15 percent on August 1 to 20 percent on September 1, and to 25 percent on October 1.
Trump had accused Mexico of failing to stem the tide of migrant crossings into their territory. He said the tariffs will remain at the 25 percent level until Mexico stops the illegal crossings to the southern border.
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