Ducey backs Trump’s tariffs against Mexico

In a series of tweets, Gov. Doug Ducey voiced support of for President Donald Trump’s plan to implement a series of progressively increasing tariffs on Mexican imports in response to a surge of migrants — mostly families with children — from Central America that has overwhelmed U.S. border officials.

Ducey said that national security is at risk, and that takes precedence over commerce with the state’s largest international trading partner, despite his general opposition to tariffs.

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. 1/3

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) May 31, 2019

We’ve reached out tonight to our friends in Mexico to see where elected leaders, law enforcement and the faith community can work together to alleviate this crisis. (2/3)

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) May 31, 2019

It’s long past time for Congress to act, both on border security as well as USMCA, which was introduced today and will have substantial long-term benefit to all of our economies. (3/3)

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) May 31, 2019

Trump late Thursday afternoon announced that he would impose a 5-percent tariff on all goods imported from Mexico beginning June 10.  That rate will increase by five percentage points a month until October, when it reaches 25 percent, and Trump said it will remain at that level “until the illegal immigration problem is remedied.”

Although Trump has said in the past that tariffs are paid for by the countries on which they are imposed, the reality is that American consumers and businesses who buy foreign goods actually pay the cost.

One of Ducey’s strongest allies, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Glen Hamer, has already voiced opposition to the tariffs and told Capitol Media Services their implementation is “baffling and, if carried out, will be terribly damaging.”

He said there are about 300,000 jobs in the state − close to 10 percent of the economy − that are linked to tourism, with Mexican visitors spending $7.5 million a day in Arizona. And Hamer said that for many border area communities more than half their sales taxes can be linked to cross-border visitors.

Hamer said it’s already difficult for Mexican visitors to get into this country.

“I would suspect that if our friends from Mexico feel that this is an unfairly targeted tariff they may be less likely to visit the United States,” he said.