Trump suggests a 20 percent tariff on goods from Mexico to pay for his wall

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that a 20 percent import tax could be used to pay for the wall he intends to build on the U.S. border with Mexico. However, there is already some confusion about whether the tariffs will ever be imposed.

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Earlier, Trump had said that if Mexico was not going to pay for the wall, there was no use of the two presidents meeting next week as scheduled. Nieto announced he would not go in a tweet. Later Trump said that the two had mutually agreed to call off the meeting. Trump appears determined to find some way of making Mexico pay and the twenty percent tariff on goods imported into the U.S. from Mexico would be one way.

It is not clear if Trump consulted anyone while making the suggestion. Trump appears to make threats, announcements, or even issue executive orders, without consulting others or considering the consequences. If Trump carried through with his threat, he could start a trade war with Mexico. Lindsey Graham, a Republican Senator tweeted: “Border security yes, tariffs no. Mexico is 3rd largest trading partner. Any tariff we can levy they can levy.” He also said that any proposal which would drive up the costs of Corona beer, tequila, or margaritas was a bad idea. Later, Reince Priebus, Trump's chief of staff claimed the 20 percent tariff was just one of a "buffet of options". Ordinarily the tariffs would need to be approved by Congress but the president does have the authority to impose tariffs on imports should he consider that U.S. interests are threatened. The New York Times speaks of the White House sowing confusing about the tariff plan.

The former president of Mexico Vicente Fox Queseda issued his own politically incorrect tweet in response to Trump's demand that Mexico pay for the wall referring to Trump White House Secretary Spicer : Sean Spicer, I've said this to @realDonaldTrump and now I'll tell you: Mexico is not going to pay for that fucking wall. #FuckingWall. Fox also warned Canada to watch out for "stupid" Trump.

Trump has estimated that the cost will be about $8 billion for the wall but many say this is too low. A 2016 report from investment research firm Bernstein suggested the cost would be between $15 to $25 billion. The cost was based upon a Government Accountability Office 2009 estimate that a mile of fencing along the border would cost between $2.8 million and $3.9 million to install but this was for the easiest stretches of land. Critics also are concerned that Trump may not have figured maintenance costs into his estimates.

Apparently Trump's team has had meetings with the Army and Interior Department to assess environmental obstacles to building the wall. The wall might threaten the movement of some species in the Rio Grande. The route also covers several flood plains where construction might face difficulties.