BTA Chair Avila: “Tariffs on Mexican imports are totally and completely unnecessary.”

BTA President Clarke: “This announcement will only hurt the American consumer and will be a tremendous drag on the U.S. economy.”

WASHINGTON (May 30, 2019)—The Border Trade Alliance released the following statements in reaction to a White House announcement that the president intends to impose a 5% tariff on goods imported from Mexico:

BTA Chair Paola Avila:

“Establishing tariffs on our friends, neighbors, and trading partners is exactly the wrong policy to pursue. The president’s plan, if executed, will do tremendous harm to our relationship with Mexico, to our country’s ability to adopt new trade agreements going forward, and to U.S. consumers, who will be the ones who will pay for these tariffs. Tariffs on Mexican imports are totally and completely unnecessary.”

BTA President Ms. Britton Clarke:

“At a time when we should be directing all resources and goodwill toward the congressional adoption of the USMCA, imposing tariffs on our trading partner Mexico will do severe damage to that effort. USMCA and NAFTA are about tearing down tariffs and strengthening the bonds of our two economies. This announcement will only hurt the American consumer and will be a tremendous drag on the U.S. economy.”

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