According to a report from the Washington Post, Republican senators told Trump administration officials today that they are “prepared to block” Trump’s latest tariff threat against imports from Mexico.
As previously reported by SteelOrbis, the US will impose a 5 percent tariff against all imports from Mexico as of June 10 unless the country “dramatically reduces or eliminates the number of illegal aliens crossing” into the US. The tariffs will then increase to 10 percent on July 1, 15 percent on August 1, 20 percent on September 1, and cap at 25 percent on October 1.
During a private lunch, Republican senators spoke in opposition to the tariffs, and told White House officials that they could hold a disapproval vote if Trump moves forward with the tariffs. Unlike previous disapproval resolutions, this would likely have enough opponents to override a veto.
“There is not much support in my conference for tariffs, that’s for sure,” said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). He told the Post that senators hope negotiations with Mexico will be “fruitful” and the tariffs won’t happen.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said administration officials plan to meet with Mexican leaders on Wednesday to discuss the tariffs. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressed optimism today at a news conference, saying he thinks the US and Mexico “will reach an accord before the 10th of June.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who is currently on a trip to the United Kingdom, reiterated his intention of imposing the tariffs and said it would be “foolish” for Republican senators to oppose him.