US tariffs on Mexico likely a go, says Trump

Common items, including burritos, are sure to go up if Washington goes ahead with its tariffs against Mexico.

London/Mexico City - He adds, however, that 'if we can do something' about it

By Reuters

Published: Tue 4 Jun 2019, 8:56 PM

Last updated: Wed 12 Jun 2019, 9:21 AM

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would probably order new tariffs on all Mexican goods imported to the United States next week despite a diplomatic push to avoid the levies, citing high flows of migrants entering the US from Mexico.
Trump said last week Mexican goods would pay new tariffs beginning June 10 if Mexico did not halt a surge in the US-bound immigrants, mostly from Central America.
"We're going to see if we can do something, but I think it's more likely that the tariffs go on," Trump said at a news conference in London, describing large flows of migrants into America as an "invasion".
"Mexico should step up and stop this onslaught, this invasion into our country," Trump said, also calling on the US Congress to pass immigration laws to address the situation and blaming Democrats for stalling any such effort.
Asked to comment on Trump's remarks, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told his regular morning news conference he was optimistic that a deal could be reached. "The most important thing now is to reach an agreement," Lopez Obrador said, indicating that he would continue to negotiate even if Trump did go ahead with the tariffs.
Before Trump spoke, Lopez Obrador told the two-hour news conference he expected Mexico to reach a deal with the United States over immigration ahead of the June 10 deadline. "There are signs that it matters to the US officials that there's a deal," he told his regular morning news conference.
UK, Huawei
Meanwhile, Trump said the US and Britain could agree a "phenomenal" post-Brexit trade deal.
"As the UK makes preparations to exit the European Union, the United States is committed to a phenomenal trade deal between the US and the UK," Trump told a news conference during his state visit to London.
He added that the US and Britain could work out any differences over China's Huawei, dismissing any suggestion that disagreement could threaten intelligence-sharing between the two close allies.