
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 26: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Congress of Tomorrow Republican Member Retreat January 26, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Congressional Republicans are gathering for three days to plan their 2017 legislative agenda. (Photo by Bill Clark-Pool/Getty Images)
Earlier this week Donald Trump signed an executive order enabling construction of the Great Wall along the U.S. – Mexican border. A big point of contention is who is going to pay for this $20 billion project, with the White House insisting Mexico will pay to the point where it’s become a Trumpkin rallying cry. Clearly our neighbors to the south — the #3 trade partner of the United States — aren’t on the same page, with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto canceling a trip to Washington to meet with President Trump.
So, again, who is paying for this damn wall again? And how? Today on Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced the White House’s plan: Impose a 20% tax on all U.S. imports from Mexico.
Spicer said the 20% tax on Mexican imports would be part of broader tax reform, and POTUS favors such a tax on ALL imports
— Julie Davis (@juliehdavis) January 26, 2017
So, economically speaking, the plan for “Mexico Will Pay!” is to cause a 20% price surge on items Americans regularly purchase directly from Mexico. That ranges anywhere from auto parts to clothes to produce.
Donald Trump really hates the North American Free Trade Agreement, a President Clinton-era trade agreement that’s made importing and exporting from Mexico quite easy. This has resulted in an economic boom of Mexican imports into the United States, including items that are a big part of the every day American’s lifestyle: Cervezas like Corona, Tecate, and Modello. Tequila, distilled from agave that *pretty much* only grows in Mexico. Avocados, which caused basic yuppie girls to freaaaaaaak out when they spiked in price last year under a shortage from U.S. growers.
Have you looked at the labels of origin on a lot of every day items you get at the grocery store? Betcha a lot of ’em say “grown in Mexico” thanks to NAFTA, causing prices to remain relatively low for us as consumers. Here’s what that means:
Top MX export categories are machinery, electrical machinery, vehicles, mineral fuels, and plastics. Will raise costs for US corps.
— Stephen Schwartz (@AtomicAnalyst) January 26, 2017
UPDATE: The White House is now changing its tune…. How convenient!
BREAKING: Spicer tells me 20% tax on Mexican imports is NOT a policy proposal, but example of options how to pay for wall.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) January 26, 2017
UPDATE: Sean Spicer seems to walk back border tax proposal, saying it's only one option. "There are clearly a bunch of ways it can be done."
— Gregory Korte (@gregorykorte) January 26, 2017
Twitter, of course, is losing it with the news of the 20% tariff and the possibility of a looming trade war over this damn wall:
Simply put, any policy proposal which drives up costs of Corona, tequila, or margaritas is a big-time bad idea. Mucho Sad. (2)
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/pemaquid27/status/824726477270765568
So, it looks like #avocados won't be an option for appetizers for the #superbowl
They will cost 20% more… 😭 pic.twitter.com/ZSPQxLMCGg— Liliana Jamrisko (@JamriskoLiliana) January 26, 2017
I'm not trying to pay 20% more for tequila man… go fly a kite
— Robert (@rm20192) January 26, 2017
On every college campus a white girl who voted for him is crying over her Avocado Toast and Tequila that she won't be able to afford anymore pic.twitter.com/F5kbddJRkd
— Scotty Weinstein (@scottynooooo) January 26, 2017
There will be riots over the price of tequila now https://t.co/bg7GzvkzRZ
— Tiffany Ho (@TiffanyMHo) January 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/kelsey_kraetz/status/824723330116755461
Wait is he gonna tax avocados?¿ pic.twitter.com/vr7RfnhAsb
— Taylor Gipe (@tgipe) January 26, 2017
Trump wants 🇲🇽 to pay for the wall
➡️
Tariff on Mexican imports
➡️
Price of imported Avocados⬆️
➡️
Chipotle guac costs more.Now do u care?
— TJ Hedin (@TJ_Hedin) January 26, 2017
So my avocados 🥑 are gonna come with a 20% tax? 😪 pic.twitter.com/SAEBKsvFzk
— Lorén Cox (@DocLoCox) January 26, 2017
I think Trump is severely underestimating how much America loves avocados. Kimchi diplomacy works, you guys. This will be his downfall. pic.twitter.com/W35g1TFSfa
— Scafe says wear a gd mask (@erinscafe) January 26, 2017
Trump wants 20% tax on Mexican imports, so if you hate paying for guacamole at Chipotle, soon it'll be $5 and funding a stupid f**king wall.
— Tommy Campbell (@MrTommyCampbell) January 26, 2017
Chipotle employees now: Guacamole is extra-extra because Trump raised taxes on imports from Mexico.
— Dylan Park-Pettiford (@dyllyp) January 26, 2017
GUAC AT CHIPOTLE IS ALREADY TWO DOLLARS BASICALLY NOW TRUMP IS GONNA TAX MEXICAN IMPORTS AND YOU SAID THIS GUY WAS A POPULIST?
— nicholas j. (@NicholasJWilly) January 26, 2017