Donald Trump once again put relations with Mexico under pressure by stating that the United States practically does not need Mexican products to sustain its economy.
The president said Friday that Mexico would not have much to offer the United States, except for “spicy tamales, tomatoes, a couple of things,” during remarks in the Oval Office.
The statement came as Trump was explaining his position toward countries that maintain a trade surplus with the United States and defending the possibility of reducing trade relations.
However, the president ruled out breaking trade ties with Mexico for now and attributed that position to the relationship he maintains with President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Trump Says the United States Does Not Need Products from Mexico
“If I stopped trading with them, we wouldn’t lose anything. It would only take one signature,” Trump said in response to reporters’ questions about his trade strategy.
The president claimed that the United States loses $195 billion annually to Mexico, a figure he used to support his argument regarding the trade imbalance between the two countries.
“They have nothing that we really need,” he said before mentioning tamales and tomatoes and adding that the United States has sufficient resources.
“We have oil, we have everything,” Trump added, although he immediately qualified his remarks by highlighting the political relationship he maintains with the Mexican president.
Trump Praises Sheinbaum Despite Controversial Comments About Mexico
“I don’t want to do that because we get along very well with the president. We like the president, we respect her very much,” Trump said regarding the possibility of cutting off trade.
The remarks once again show the combination of economic pressure and political rapprochement that has characterized several recent episodes between the Trump and Sheinbaum administrations.
The Mexican president acknowledged this week that the relationship with Washington has experienced “its difficulties,” but maintained that her government will continue seeking agreements in strategic areas.
“On trade matters, we have permanent dialogue with the United States government, and we hope to reach an understanding,” Sheinbaum said from the National Palace.
USMCA Faces New Pressures Between the United States and Mexico
The statements come at a particularly delicate moment for trade between Mexico and the United States, with discussions underway regarding sectors that are fundamental to both economies.
During the trade round held in Mexico City in July, officials addressed differences related to tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum, as well as the agricultural sector.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard agreed at the time to continue negotiations throughout September.
The uncertainty also extends to Canada, after Washington and Ottawa intensified their dispute through new tariffs, increasing doubts surrounding the future of North American trade.
Trump: We could do tremendous good for ourselves by just not trading with countries.. We lose with Mexico $195 billion a year. They have nothing that we have to have, I mean. Hot tamales, tomatoes, a couple of things.
What Do Trump’s Words Mean?
The controversial statement does not amount to a trade rupture, nor does it mean that Washington has decided to abandon the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
It does, however, once again increase political pressure as the three countries face trade differences and discuss the future of one of North America’s fundamental economic agreements.
Mexico and the United States maintain closely interconnected production chains, particularly in industries that are part of the current trade discussions between the two governments.
For now, Trump is combining his economic criticism with praise for Sheinbaum, while the negotiations scheduled for September could determine how far the new trade tensions will go.
Source: msn
