Here’s what your guacamole — and other groceries — would cost if we had a Mexico border tax

Star Telegram ^ | ELIZABETH KOH

[SJackson]

It was a claim that President Donald Trump repeated on the campaign trail: that he would build a wall and that the Mexicans would pay for it. In his first few days in office, Trump appeared to make good on one portion of that promise, by signing an executive order for the planning and building of that wall to proceed.

But the cost for that wall will temporarily be borne by Americans, Trump said, and Mexico’s government insists it will not pay for the construction on the border. On Thursday, President Donald Trump floated a 20 percent tax on imports from Mexico which suggested that until Trump’s promised reimbursement from the Mexicans materializes, Americans would pay for the border wall with their pocketbooks.

The White House clarified afterwards that Trump’s suggestion was an option rather than an official proposal, but social media users quickly questioned the possible uptick in one particular grocery item: avocados, of which 80 percent come from

America’s southern neighbor. Though the price of the guacamole’s main ingredient varies from market to market, the creamy green fruit usually costs a few dollars. Assuming a $3 cost, a 20 percent tax would increase the price to $3.60.

Takis, a common packaged food snack, would go from $6 to $7.20, the Washington Post reported. Other staples like tomato paste would also see only a slight markup, from about $1.20 to $1.44.

[Dusty Road]

I didn’t think anybody had worse soil that we have here in West Texas. Have you had the soil checked? Ours is a high alkaline soil.

[Dusty Road]

The Washington post is lying.

Lets say I sell Takis for living. I buy them from the Mexican vendor for 3.00 a bag in bulk loads of 100 bags per pallet. With the tariff it now costs me 3.60 per bag. Retail I charge 9 dollars per bag so I only have to raise the bag price 9.60 to recover my cost. That’s not a 20 percent rise in consumer cost, it’s less than 10.

[OKITRUMP77]

I prefer wasabi.

[Pirate Ragnar]

“I wish they would talk about the billions we will save by ejecting all the illegals.”

Gee, the cost of avocados goes up and many hospitals would have enough money to keep going rather than close due to an influx of non paying illegals.

[Duchess47]

Bananas are grown in Hawaii. :)

Perfect, the US produces every fruit or vegetable that I might want to eat.

[Daffynition]

No, and I am reluctant to do so; b/c my *garden* is a rental space in our town community garden [cg]. Heaven knows what kind of *stuff* has been put into the soil by previous occupants, over the years. Rules of the cg state that it must be kept *organic*, although, I see people putting all sorts of stuff out.

At this point, I'm content to buy garlic at farmers markets. I did drive by a place, in my backroad travels that had a sign *The Garlic Farm*; I'll check them out this spring. ;)

I did learn how to grow great corn at the cg; one year I tried this crazy idea I had; it was like container gardening in a shopping bag. One success from it, was to eliminate weeding. ;)

[vetvetdoug]

Now if our markets are closed to the Mexicans, who are they going to ship all those avocados to?

[discostu]

I don’t think my guac is going up. Avocados come from CA not Mexico. DVDs and CDs though are going to take a hit, most of those are printed in Mexico.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

And if more families are making better incomes in true full-time skilled labor, the higher prices for these commodities will not be a problem at all. Cheap, low-quality, goods carry a different kind of cost. I’d prefer my avacados were grown in America, by producers following our practices and rules, and who live here and eat them as well.

[KC Burke]

We moved to the Phoenix valley a few years back. My wife and I have been amazed as to how hard it is to buy US produce or non-Mexican produce in Phoenix. With California next door, you would think they produced enough to export to Arizona, but rarely do we see such.

Certain items like tomatoes are always from Mexico.

We would pay double as it is only the two of us, but US produce is not available even seasonally for many items.

[central_va]

A lot of Americans want the tariff. They are willing to pay higher prices for Mexican goods because it will incentivize US producers to invest in America.

Besa mi culo Mexico.

[central_va]

A tariff doesn’t close a market. An embargo does that.

[central_va]

We will rapid a 10 fold pay back in save taxes and reduced unemployment. Only unAmerican douche wads would have a problem with that. Nobody cares we just want the wall.

[TADSLOS]

Another McCain inspired $10 lettuce story.

[central_va]

I think the labor per head is 3 cents now. We could double that and pay Americans.

[MUDDOG]

Don’t cry for me guacamole.