Republican lawmakers eager to halt a new round of tariffs on Mexican goods next week have spent days urging the Trump administration to negotiate a solution with Mexico’s government.
But President Donald Trump is making clear he has no intention of cutting a quick face-saving deal, warning on Twitter late Tuesday that he’s not “bluffing” in his threat to impose 5% tariffs on all imports from Mexico starting June 10.
That’s raised the stakes for a meeting on Wednesday between Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and White House officials that may be Mexico’s best chance to offer concrete steps to curb the flow of migrants into the U.S.
Most Senate Republicans have objected to Trump’s use of tariffs to force tougher border enforcement by Mexico, questioning the president’s choice of legal authority and weighing moves by Congress to block the levies.
Yet with Congress leaving town on Wednesday and little they can do to prevent the first 5% tariffs, they are waging a private and public pressure campaign to make Trump understand how damaging this would be to the livelihood of many Republican voters, the economy as a whole and even to the president’s re-election campaign.
The Mexican foreign ministry said Ebrard is scheduled to meet with Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Wednesday. The White House did not respond to requests to confirm meeting participants.
‘Dug-in’
Senator John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, said he spoke with Trump Sunday about the Mexico tariffs and described him as “dug-in.”
“He’s as serious as four heart attacks and a stroke,” Kennedy told reporters at the Capitol. “A 5% tariff isn’t going to break the bank. A 25% tariff is a different story, but we are a long way from there.”
White House Deputy Counsel Patrick Philbin was deployed to Tuesday’s Senate Republican lunch, where he faced strong opposition to Trump’s tariff plan, according to those present.
“There is not much support in my conference," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters after the lunch. “We’re hoping that doesn’t happen.”