Trumpland

Trump: U.S. to Impose Increasing Tariffs on Mexican Goods Until ‘Illegal Immigration Problem Is Remedied’

UPPING THE ANTE

When asked which products would face tariffs, an administration official told reporters: “All of them.”

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Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

President Trump tweeted Thursday that the U.S. would start imposing a 5 percent tariff on “all goods coming into our Country from Mexico” on June 10, a move he said is meant to stop illegal immigration. The tariffs will remain in effect “until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP,” he said. Trump also warned the tariff would “gradually increase” unless the “Illegal Immigration problem is remedied[.]” White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told reporters Thursday evening the tariffs would be raised to 10 percent on July 1, 15 percent on Aug. 1, 20 percent on Sept. 1, and 25 percent on Oct. 1. When asked if the White House was considering the economic damage of the tariffs, Mulvaney said unauthorized immigration was “already impacting the economy negatively.” When asked what products would be levied in June, Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan simply said, “All of them.”

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