Trump tariffs: Mexico to apply "measures" if no agreement
"Mexico will announce measures next week if there is no agreement reached with the United States on the steel and aluminum tariffs announced, president Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday," reported Reuters.
Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum also named the U.S. announcement to raise the metals' tariffs to 50% from the 25% introduced in March an "unfair measure," promising the response will not be "an eye for an eye."
"It is not a matter of revenge, or retaliation as they call it in English. It is a matter of protecting our jobs and our businesses," she commented.
Mexican Economy Minister, Marcelo Ebrard stated also, as BBC recalls, that Mexico is aiming to request an exemption from the higher tarifs. Minister Ebrard claimed, according to CBS, that the tariffs are "unfair," because the US exports more steel to Mexico than it imports. "It makes no sense to put a tariff on a product in which you have a surplus," he argued.
President Sheinbaum also announced that Minister Ebrard will hold talks with American officials later this week.
Switch in tariffs
President Donald Trump announced on Friday during the rally in Pennsylvania doubling the tariffs on steel and aluminium to 50%. He claimed the move aims to boost the steal industry and reduce reliance on China.
"If you don't have steel, you don't have a country. You don't have a country, you can't make a military. What are we going to do? Say, 'Let's go to China to get our steel from the army tanks,'" the President stated. He also added, "at 50%, they can no longer get over the fence," targeting Mexico. "We are once again going to put Pennsylvania steel into the backbone of America, like never before," President Trump continued.
Source: Reuters, BBC
