Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has pledged to impose steep tariffs on Mexican goods if Mexico fails to curb illegal immigration into the United States. Speaking at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, Trump highlighted his hardline stance on immigration and trade, proposing a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico as a penalty if Mexico doesn’t take stronger action.
“On day one, or even sooner, I will notify Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, that if they don’t stop the influx of criminals and drugs into our country, I will immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything they send to the United States,” Trump stated. He added that if a 25% tariff doesn’t work, he would raise it to 50%, and if needed, up to 75%.
Such a policy would challenge the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which currently permits most goods to move between the two countries duty-free. Mexico is a key trade partner for the U.S., ranking as the second-largest buyer of American goods (after Canada) and the second-largest supplier (after China), according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
In addition to tariffs on Mexican imports, Trump has proposed a 20% tariff on goods from all countries, a 60% tariff on Chinese products, and a 100% tariff on cars made in Mexico. He has also suggested replacing federal income tax with tariffs, though economists have raised concerns, noting that tariffs alone would likely fall short in replacing lost revenue.
Experts warn that relying on tariffs could shift the tax burden from wealthier individuals, who currently pay higher income taxes, to lower-income families, who spend a larger portion of their income on essential goods.