Ducey is fine with Trump’s taxing tariff
Donald Trump hasn’t been able to convince Mexico to pay for his wall on the Southwest border, so he hatched another plan.
If Mexico won’t build the wall, he wants Mexico to BE the wall.
The only problem is that he’ll have to sacrifice a number of U.S. states to get his way.
Arizona being one of them. Imposing tariffs on Mexico, as Trump professes to do, amounts to imposing taxes on the Americans who will pay for them. Us.
This idea outraged border governors in New Mexico and Texas and California. But not Arizona.
Gov. Doug Ducey sheepishly acquiesced to Trump’s wishes, tweeting:
“I’ve talked with the White House today. Everyone knows I am opposed to tariffs and deeply value Arizona’s relationship with Mexico. I prioritize national security and a solution to our humanitarian crisis at the border above commerce.”
Ducey said this as just about
else said tariffs would be a disaster and provide no guarantee to do anything, other than hurt Americans.
“Imposing tariffs on goods from Mexico is exactly the wrong move. These tariffs will be paid by American families and businesses without doing a thing to solve the very real problems at the border,” said Neil Bradley, U.S. Chamber of Commerce executive vice president and chief policy officer.
The chamber figures that Trump’s tariff would amount to a $452.1 million tax on Arizonans.
Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “Tariffs are taxes, and they’re taxes paid by hardworking American families.”
Republican Sen. Sen. Martha McSally added, “While I support the President’s intention of stopping unchecked illegal immigration, I do not support these types of tariffs, which will harm our economy and be passed onto Arizona small businesses and families.”
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, said the tariff has the “potential to be economically catastrophic” for her state.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, a Republican, “I’ve previously stated my opposition to tariffs due to the harm it would inflict on the Texas economy, and I remain opposed today.”
Estimates by the conservative Tax Foundation suggest that a 5 percent tariff — Trump’s supposed starting point — would amount to the largest tax increase on Americans in 30 years.
Only Congress is supposed to impose new taxes. A tariff is an end run around the Constitution. Trump and his people say Mexico will pay the bill.
No one who knows anything about tariffs agrees with that.
Mexico will not pay for the tariffs, just as Mexico will not pay for Trump’s wall.
The governors of other border states know that. As do economists, business executives and other elected officials.
Everyone, apparently, except Arizona’s governor.
Either that, or he quakes in fear at possibly offending Trump.
The president can’t convince Mexico to pay for the wall so he’s trying to pressure it to BE the wall by way of these tariffs. Essentially, he wants Mexico to set up a blockade at its border with Guatemala to cut off migrating Central Americans.
Mexico won’t pay for that, either, however.
We will.
“These tariffs will be paid by American families and businesses without doing a thing to solve the very real problems at the border.” Neil Bradley Executive vice president and chief policy officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce