President Donald Trump announced his administration is slapping massive tariffs on Mexico for its government’s failure to stem the tide of illegal immigration into the United States.
According to the president, the tariffs will steadily increase until Mexico solves the problem.
The Daily Wire’s Ryan Saavedra reports:
“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,” Trump tweeted. “The Tariff will gradually increase until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied, at which time the Tariffs will be removed. Details from the White House to follow.”
….at which time the Tariffs will be removed. Details from the White House to follow.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2019
In a message sent out by the White House, Trump explained that the 5% tariff on Mexico will increase by 5% every month — maxing out at 25% — until the flow of illegal immigration comes to a halt. Trump writes:
To address the emergency at the Southern Border, I am invoking the authorities granted to me by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Accordingly, starting on June 10, 2019, the United States will impose a 5 percent Tariff on all goods imported from Mexico. If the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico, to be determined in our sole discretion and judgment, the Tariffs will be removed. If the crisis persists, however, the Tariffs will be raised to 10 percent on July 1, 2019. Similarly, if Mexico still has not taken action to dramatically reduce or eliminate the number of illegal aliens crossing its territory into the United States, Tariffs will be increased to 15 percent on August 1, 2019, to 20 percent on September 1, 2019, and to 25 percent on October 1, 2019. Tariffs will permanently remain at the 25 percent level unless and until Mexico substantially stops the illegal inflow of aliens coming through its territory. Workers who come to our country through the legal admissions process, including those working on farms, ranches, and in other businesses, will be allowed easy passage.
Fox News’ Gregg Re reports that White House sources have indicated that Mexico “needs to step up security efforts on the border, target transnational smugglers, crack down on illicit bus lines, and align with the U.S. on a workable asylum policy” and that “there are choke points on the southern border that Mexico could use to sharply curb illegal migration.”