By Steve Segner, Sedona Resident
(February 24, 2017)
Since his days on the campaign trail, President Trump has repeatedly spewed incendiary rhetoric about Mexico, including threats to impose tariffs on Mexican goods. Following through on these threats would have several negative consequences that would devastate our relationship with Mexico and ultimately harm the American people.
Mexico is our neighbor and ally, and we should focus on cooperating with them in an effort to advance our mutual interests. In addition, we must remember that trade is a two-way street, and Mexico has plenty of options for retaliation if Trump starts a trade war.
For example, México currently stops and sends back immigrants from South and Central American countries at checkpoints along its southern border and throughout Mexico (although the U.S. pays for some of this cost). If provoked, Mexico could choose to stop acting as the gatekeeper and simply let these immigrants’ head to America. This could result in more situations like the influx of unaccompanied immigrant children that descended upon Texas in 2015.
Mexico also does not need to accept everyone that ICE deports—only those with the necessary papers to prove Mexican citizenship. Considering that many border crossers do not have papers, Mexico could become less cooperative about accepting individuals deported from the U.S.
It is also important to remember that Americans buy copious amounts of illegal drugs that flow through Mexico from South America. Mexico could turn a blind eye and cease efforts to stop the flow of drugs into the U.S., exacerbating societal plagues like the ongoing heroin epidemic.
In addition to worsening our illegal immigration and drug problems, conflict with Mexico would harm American workers and our economy. Mexico buys vast quantities of products like corn and wheat from farmers in the Midwestern U.S. They could choose to start purchasing these items from Brazil and Canada, which would have a detrimental impact on our agricultural industry. Mexico ccould adjust for the additional cost of importing these items from other countries by imposing a tax on all items made in the U.S.—as mentioned above, a trade war would work both ways!
Finally, Mexico could halt or tax the maquiladoras program, whereby products are made in America, shipped to Mexico for assembly, and returned to the U.S. tax-free. This would threaten American jobs and harm our economy, particularly in states like Texas, California, and New Mexico.
As Mr. Trump continues to make threats and rash remarks against our neighbor to the south, he should keep in mind that Mexico would have its own weapons in a trade war. The U.S. would be unlikely to win such a war, and Mexico’s reaction could impair the safety and prosperity of the American people.
Steve Segner
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5 Comments
In response to this letter – I can only wonder what alternate reality you live in? And I would also question who paid you to write such a dishonest assessment of both our President Trump and our relationship with Mexico?
I can see by your response that my facts are correct or you would have written more the three lines, please enlighten us, I will be happy to reply point by point.
By the way I have manufactured in Mexico for years and understand that Mexicans are a proud people and will not roll over they have choices, and they know the corruption in their nation come from American buying drugs.
For those who fail to recognize the entertainment and drama factor created by “fake news,” we are now in the 21st Century. There is already a wall. It’s digital. Google “Satellites patrol America’s borders,” and consider that you can’t turn around twice without being photographed. There are cameras on every major through-fare and scanners able to detect who the car is registered to and who is driving by reading that magnetic strip. There is a chip in passports so NSA has access to every person carrying one. There are GWEN towers every few miles or so and every conversation can be monitored.
The physical wall is only a symbol that we are divided. But on every other level, Mexico is a good neighbor. The ugly stuff we read about is from the massive wealth of drugs (if they were legal there would not be this problem – see also The Netherlands). And the ugly stuff of Fast and Furious. Google that and tell me where the problem with Mexico begins.
There is so much separation and anxiety in America – in Sedona – as shown here by Steve Segner. Steve points his finger at everyone else and here spews love and light when really it’s just obtuse conceit.
Mountains of Uninvested Corporate Cash, Not Mexico, Most Responsible for Job Loss
Please read the article on this webpage:
The drug war is there just to create revenue for private prisons, lawyers, police agencies, and corporations. It does nothing to stop drugs. Incarceration NEVER helps. Legalize drugs, regulate drugs, rehabilitation, not incarceration. Blaming everything on immigration is just plain wrong. Stop the bigotry.It is all about greed and profit. The alternate universe is not based on facts.
Steve- An important reminder about our complex relationship with Mexico and its economic importance as a trading partner ( fresh vegetables, anyone?) for the border states.