Former President Donald Trump has once again made immigration a central focus of his presidential campaign, this time threatening to slap new tariffs on goods from Mexico in retaliation for illegal border crossings if he returns to office. Speaking at a campaign event in Raleigh, North Carolina, Trump stated that he would call Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and threaten her over his concerns about arriving immigrants.
Trump's proposed tariffs would start at 25% and escalate to 100% if Mexico does not stop what he described as an "onslaught of criminals and drugs" entering the United States. However, it is important to note that there have been far fewer border encounters in recent months, likely due to changes made by President Joe Biden earlier this year to restrict asylum claims and speed up deportations.
Economists widely agree that tariffs would ultimately impact U.S. consumers as companies raise their prices to offset the costs. Trump's tariff plans have been inconsistent, ranging from a 10% across-the-board tariff to as high as 200% on goods imported from Mexico. The former President has also suggested even higher tariffs, including 500% or 1000% on certain goods.