A trade war threatened by President Trump would raise food prices, help China and jeopardize key U.S. economic ties, Mexico's former trade secretary said Monday.
Kenneth Smith Ramos said in the thread, “I say let's do it.” on social platform in response to footage of Trump discussing tariffs in the Oval Office.
“A 25% #tariff would be a terrible blow to the #US #economy, which relies on hundreds of billions of dollars of #Mexican imports that make manufacturing #competitive.”
“If we suspend USMCA, good luck competing with China…This would immediately lead to higher prices for key U.S. agricultural products, primarily Mexican berries, avocados, tomatoes, peppers, and citrus. “It will be,” he added. .
Smith Ramos served as Mexico's chief negotiator on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade agreement signed by President Trump during his first term in 2020 to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). .
President Trump said on Fox News in October. renegotiate the deal.
During his campaign, Trump said on his first day in office that he would impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico.
He has now pushed back that date to Feb. 1 and released a memo on Monday directing federal agencies to instead examine the U.S.'s trade relationships with China, Canada and Mexico.
“We're thinking about Mexico and Canada in terms of 25%, because they're allowing huge numbers of people and fentanyl into the country,” Trump said.
Smith-Ramos also said in a thread on X that imposing U.S. tariffs would cause “economic chaos in North America” and that China would be the “clear winner.”
“The unification and integration of Mexico, Canada and the United States is the only solution to the region's economic challenges,” he added.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a meeting with provincial premiers last week that Canada would “intentionally respond strongly and decisively” if the Trump administration imposes tariffs.
“There's no sugar coating it,” Trudeau said. “The incoming administration's proposed tariffs on Canada will harm Americans. It will put American jobs at risk. It will put our collective safety at risk. Sho.”
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
