President Donald Trump says he has suspended plans to impose tariffs on Mexico, tweeting that the country “has agreed to take strong measures†to stem the flow of Central American migrants into the United States.
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“I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico,†Trump tweeted Friday night, saying the “Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended.â€
He said Mexico has agreed to work to “stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border†and said those steps would “greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States.â€
According to a “U.S.-Mexico Joint Declaration†released by the State Department late Friday, the U.S. said it would work to greatly expand a program that returns asylum seekers who cross the southern border to Mexico while their claims are adjudicated.
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Mexico has also agreed to take “unprecedented steps to increase enforcement to curb irregular migration,†including the deployment of the Mexican National Guard throughout the country, especially on its southern border with Guatemala. And the U.S. said Mexico is also taking “decisive action to dismantle human smuggling and trafficking organizations as well as their illicit financial and transportation networks.â€
Trump’s decision marked a change in tone from earlier Friday, when his spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters in Ireland before Trump took off: “Our position has not changed. The tariffs are going forward as of Monday.†Trump has often said unpredictability helps him negotiate.
The 5% tax on all Mexican goods , which would increase every month up to 25% under Trump’s plan, would have had enormous economic implications for both countries. Americans bought $378 billion worth of Mexican imports last year, led by cars and auto parts. ■