Introduction

The recent talk of tariffs against Mexico by the U.S. Administration, led by President Donald Trump, sparked intense discussions about their potential impact on the flow of migrants from Mexico into the United States. This article delves into the likely consequences of such tariffs, examining whether they could effectively address the issues at hand or simply serve as a political distraction.

Understanding the Context

Let's first establish the context. The proposed tariffs aim to pressure Mexico into taking action to reduce the number of migrants reaching the U.S. border. However, the deal was allegedly worked out months ago, indicating that the tariffs were more of a political maneuver than a genuine solution to migration issues.

According to some analyses, Trump's move was an attempt to shift attention away from Robert Mueller’s findings, suggesting that he was obstructing justice. Essentially, Trump was using the threat of tariffs as a smoke screen to divert media and public attention from his legal troubles. This strategy might have been partially successful, as Mexico did provide some verbal assurances about its willingness to take actions, but the actual implementation remains questionable.

The Stupidity of Tariffs as a Solution

One has to question the logic of imposing tariffs as a solution to migration. The notion that imposing economic pressure on Mexico can reasonably address the issue is fundamentally flawed. Many U.S. corporations operate in Mexico, manufacturing products there that are then imported to the U.S. for distribution. Imposing tariffs on these products would in effect impose tariffs on a large portion of U.S. exports, leading to a trade war that would harm both economies.

The argument that this simplistic solution will solve the complex immigration issues is absurd. It's akin to blaming someone else for a problem that one has created. The North Korean Summit serves as a perfect parallel: the naive leader claims victory, but the so-called victory is nothing but an empty promise.

Thus, the threat of tariffs is more about political gaming than a serious attempt to resolve the root causes of migration. Mexico, like any other country, would naturally resent such actions and would likely push back. The tariff threats, while potentially effective in generating verbal promises, are unlikely to lead to practical and collaborative solutions.

The Unlikely Success of Trade Sanctions

The success of imposing tariffs as a resolution to the migration issue is highly uncertain. There are two primary approaches to solving mutual problems: bullying the other party or working collaboratively. Bullying often leads to resentment and hostility, whereas collaboration fosters mutual benefits.

In the case of the U.S. and Mexico, the latter approach would be preferable. Mexico already handles millions of legal crossings every day without issues, indicating that it has the resources to manage migration effectively. However, the current administration in the U.S. has failed to provide the necessary resources to handle the processing of these migrants. This failure is not due to Mexico's incompetence but to the U.S. government's lack of political will and funding.

The wall-building obsession and the resulting neglect of actual issues highlight the inadequacy of the current strategy. Threatening Mexico with trade sanctions not only fails to solve the problem but also hinders potential collaboration and understanding. Mexico cannot solve a problem that it did not create, and any solution must involve cooperation and mutual respect.

Conclusion

The proposed tariffs against Mexico, while potentially effective in generating verbal commitments from Mexico, are unlikely to lead to substantive changes. The real solution lies in working cooperatively with Mexico to handle the migration issue and properly allocating resources to address the root causes of illegal immigration in the U.S.

As the situation evolves, it is essential to keep in mind the importance of diplomatic efforts and international cooperation in resolving complex issues such as immigration. Diving headlong into trade sanctions as a knee-jerk reaction to migration issues is not only impractical but also counterproductive.