Trump threatens to double tariffs on Mexico over 'migrant invasion' at US border
US President Donald Trump has threatened to immediately double tariffs on Mexico unless the country stops what he described as large migrant caravans moving towards the US border, escalating his post-midterm confrontation with Mexico.
In a sharply worded post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump claimed that a new "invasion" was underway after Republicans suffered heavy losses in the US midterm elections. He argued that large groups of migrants were forming and travelling through Mexico towards the United States.
Trump also stressed that he himself was not on the ballot in the November 3 elections, repeating an argument he has made several times since the Republican defeat. The threat comes just a day after more than 1,000 migrants began walking north through southern Mexico. News agency Reuters reported that the group, estimated at about 1,500 people, left Tapachula near the Guatemalan border and was heading towards Mexico City. TRUMP BLAMES MIGRANT CARAVANS
Trump said Mexico must stop the caravans and warned that there would be no leniency if it failed to do so. He also said Mexican authorities, Texas officials, the US Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been informed of his position.
His comments followed reports of the latest migrant group setting out from Tapachula, a city that has long served as a transit point for people travelling north through Mexico. According to Reuters, many members of the current caravan are families, including parents travelling with young children. The group has been dubbed "God With Us" and initially plans to reach Mexico City, more than 1,000 kilometres from Tapachula.
The migrants said they hoped the Democratic victory in the US midterms could eventually lead to more favourable immigration policies. Analysts, however, have cautioned that major changes are unlikely while Trump remains president.POST-MIDTERM DEFEAT, TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN
Trump's tariff threat also carries a political backdrop. Democrats won control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections, dealing a major setback to Trump's political agenda. Since the results, Trump has repeatedly argued that he was not personally on the ballot and has sought to distance himself from the Republican losses.
The latest warning fits a wider pattern in Trump's approach to foreign policy.
Rather than treating tariffs solely as an economic measure, Trump has repeatedly used them as a bargaining tool to pressure other countries on issues ranging from immigration to trade and security. That strategy could become more important as the administration enters the final phase of Trump's presidency and faces a Congress controlled by Democrats.MEXICO ALREADY UNDER PRESSURE
This comes as Washington and Mexico are trying to manage a broader set of disputes over trade, immigration and security. Mexico has already been negotiating with the Trump administration over tariffs affecting key sectors. The two countries have also been discussing measures to prevent goods from other countries, particularly China, from being rerouted through Mexico into the US market.
This week, Mexico has tightened controls on steel shipments from third countries as it seeks relief from US tariffs. Mexican officials said the country had removed about 1,100 steel mills from an approved registry after identifying firms that did not exist.
About 80 per cent of Mexican exports to the US already enter tariff-free under existing trade arrangements, according to Reuters.- Ends
