Arturo Sarukhan on U.S./Mexico Relations

IT'S VERY PAINFUL TO SEE A PRESIDENT SINGLE HANDEDLY SCUFFLEING WHAT HAS BEEN BUILT IN THE U.S.-MEXICO COUNTRIES, MIXING APPLES AND ORANGES, TRADE AND IMMIGRATION POLICY, NOT ONLY WOULD HE HAVE CLAIMED A SELF INFLICTED WOUND, REMEMBER, MEXICO IN THIS FIRST QUARTER OF 2019 HAS BECOME NOW THE LARGEST TRADING PARTNER OF THE UNITED STATES.

ALSO BY CONTAMINATING A VERY COMPLEX AGENDA, HE COULD DERAIL THE HUGE ADVANCES IN A VERY COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP, LIKE THE ONE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THESE TWO NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED SINCE NAFTA, 1993.

QUICKLY IN TERMS OF DOLLARS AND CENTS AND HUMAN CAPITAL AND EMPLOYMENT AND THE LIKE, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF A 5% TARIFF AND 5% UP TO 25% HAD BEEN IMPOSED?

WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT HAVE MADE TO AMERICAN CONSUMERS AND MEXICAN CONSUMERS?

FIRST OF ALL, ONE OF THE THINGS PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMS TO FORGET AFTER BEING ON A MEXICO BASHING, IS MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE DEVELOPED INTEGRATED SUPPLY AND PRODUCTION CHAINS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

IT MEANS THAT OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR OF MEXICAN EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES, 40 CENTS ARE OF U.S. INPUT, U.S. CONTENT.

SO IF YOU ARE SLAPPING A 5%, 25% TARIFF ON PECKS CAN EXPORTS, YOU ARE SLAPPING THAT ON ALL THE U.S. IMPORTS GOING INTO EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR OF MEXICAN EXPORTS.

SO IT'S NOT ONLY AVOCADOS AND YOUR FAVORITE MEXICAN BEER.

IT'S WHAT HAPPENS TO EVERYTHING FROM CARS TO ADVANCED THEIR COMPONENTS TO HEAVY MACHINERY, SURGICAL AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

IT WILL HAVE A HUGE COST ON CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.

I THINK A 5% TARIFF WAS RIDEABLE.

I WAS ONE THAT DID NOT WANT MEXICO TO BEND THE KNEE TO TRUMP'S ULTIMATUMS I THINK IN PART OF THE DEPRESIDENTISHIAITION THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

THAT WOULD HAVE OFFSET THE 5% TARIFF AND REALLY MOBILIZED THOSE U.S. CONSTITUENCIES, GOVERNORS, MEXICANS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN'T DO THIS WHEN YOU'VE GOT 28 STATES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE MEXICO AS THEIR NUMBER 1 TRADING PARTNER.

OKAY.

AMBASSADOR, YOU SAID YOU WOULD HAVE ADVISED TO RIDE OUT A 5%. WHAT IF IT HAD GONE UP TO 25%. FURTHERMORE, IT LOOKS LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BROUGHT THE MEXICANS TO THE TABLE.

HAS PROPERTY YOUR PRESIDENT TO THE TABLE AND HE IS DECLAREING A VICTORY BECAUSE OF THESE NEW DETAILS IN THE MIGRANTS AND FLOW OF CENTRAL AMERICAN MIGRANTS.