Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) said Tuesday that President-elect Trump’s tariffs “will definitely get Mexico to the table” to solve immigration and fentanyl problems.
“If it means a 25 percent tariff to potentially fix the border, would you favor that?” NewsNation’s Blake Burman asked 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 them, 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 said he would issue an executive order imposing fresh tariffs at the start of his next term on Chinese, Canadian and Mexican goods.
The president-elect said in posts on Truth Social that he would enact 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, while adding an extra 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods. The aim of the tariffs, according to Trump, is to press the countries to increase their efforts on border security 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 said on Truth 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 appearance on CNN. “For example, slashing government spending at the same time as preserving Medicare and Medicaid.”
The Hill has reached out to the Mexican government for comment.
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