BREAKING NEWS: Trump SUSPENDS tariffs on Mexico following talks and reveals ‘strong measures’ will be brought in to ‘eliminate’ illegal immigration through the southern border
- Trump said on Friday that he had reached a deal with Mexico to stem migration
- Announced that new 5% tariff on Mexican goods set for Monday is suspended
- Trump had threatened to increase tariffs on Mexico up to 25% to force a deal
- Demanded Mexico stop the flow of Central Americans through its country
- Insisted that Mexico sign a ‘safe third country’ agreement on asylum seekers
- Mexico has moved 6,000 troops to its own southern border in crackdown
- Details of the deal have not been released but are expected soon
President Donald Trump has suspended planned tariffs against Mexico, saying that an agreement has been reached on border enforcement to stem the tide of illegal migration into the U.S. from Central America.
‘I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico,’ Trump wrote in a tweet on Friday, three days before the first tariffs were set to take effect.
‘The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended. Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border,’ he continued, shortly after arriving back at the White House from a trip to the UK and Ireland.
‘This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States. Details of the agreement will be released shortly be the State Department. Thank you!’
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hold hands and wave at supporters as they walk across the South Lawn on their return to the White House, Friday
Trump had previously vowed to put a 5 per cent tariff on all imports from Mexico starting on June 10, to be increased an additional 5 per cent monthly until reaching 25 per cent.
Crunch talks between US and Mexican officials continued through the day at the State Department in Washington, with the Trump administration demanding a tough crackdown on the Central American migrants and an agreement to accept their asylum petitions inside Mexico.
Such an agreement, known as a ‘safe third country’ agreement, was thought to be a key sticking point of the talks.
Mexico has previously refused to agree to the commitment, under which asylum seekers would be required to apply for benefits in the first safe country they enter, and not the country where they ultimately want to settle.
If a deal could not be reached, the US intended to hit hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of imports from Mexico with 5 per cent tariffs beginning Monday – a move which could have clobbered Mexico’s economy.
The tariffs would have also increased the costs of some imported goods for U.S. consumers.
‘We’re doing all right,’ Trump said without elaborating as he returned to Washington on Friday evening from Europe, as reporters shouted questions about the negotiations with Mexico.
But after leaving Ireland earlier in the day he tweeted that ‘there is a good chance’ that an agreement could be reached.
Developing story, check back for updates.