Opinion: How Mexico can strike back if Trump follows through on his threats

Los Angeles Times ^ | Dec. 31, 2024 3 AM PT | Scott Morgenstern

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President-elect Donald Trump has made clear his intent to supercharge his “America First” approach to foreign policy in his second term — and Mexico looks set to be at the tip of the spear.

While many of Trump’s predecessors have also followed a “realist” strategy — that is, one in which relative power is at the forefront of international relations and diplomatic success is viewed through how it benefits one’s own nation — the incoming president has displayed an apparent unwillingness to consider the pain that his plans would inflict on targeted countries or the responses this will engender.

Trump’s proposed policies threaten Mexico in three key ways: First, his goal of deporting millions of migrants would put tremendous pressure on Mexico’s economy and society as the country tried to absorb the influx. This would be exacerbated by his second threat, a sharp increase in tariffs, which could devastate the critical export sector of Mexico’s economy. And third, Trump has floated the idea of using U.S. military power to confront narcotraffickers within Mexico — which would directly impinge on Mexico’s sovereignty and could generate more violence on both sides of the border.

But Mexico has several options to push back on Trump by imposing high costs on U.S. interests.

Indeed, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has already signaled how she may counter Trump’s policies. The most obvious tools are ending cooperation on drugs and immigration and imposing tariffs of her own. She could also revoke some of the decades-old tax and labor privileges that have benefited U.S. businesses operating within Mexico. And finally, she could play the “China card” — that is, in the face of worsening U.S.-Mexico ties, Mexico could turn to Washington’s biggest economic...

[goodnesswins]

50% tax or more on dollars sent to Mexico...

[The Duke]

Russia takes Ukraine, American takes Mexico, Cuba and Greenland. China takes Taiwan.

No harm, no foul.

And by "take" I mean "conquer".

[Jonty30]

Simple, Mexico hasn’t been cooperating on the drug side, so none can be expected.

[KC_Conspirator]

dhimmocrats, once again, caring about everyone and everything except about Americans and their country.

[Mastador1]

They sure didn’t mind the influx of US dollars sent home by all the illegals. Go ahead Mejico, stop cooperating on drugs, maybe we’ll just slam the border shut with the military while building a real honest to God full scale concrete wall augmented by electronics to detect tunnels and full on war against the cartels.

[dljordan]

“Whose side is the LA Times on?”

Forget it Ge0ffrey it’s LA.

[mass55th]

"...the incoming president has displayed an apparent unwillingness to consider the pain that his plans would inflict on targeted countries or the responses this will engender."

Screw other countries pain. I'm concerned with the pain this country has been experiencing for years.

[Organic Panic]

How could this be? Illegal immigrants grow economies.... Or so we are told. Mexico should welcome the millions to build Mexico’s economy in to a world wide powerhouse.

[cowboyusa]

Writer is a traitor, and is on the helicopter list.

[SuperLuminal]

Scott Morgenstern is, clearly an imbecilic globalist fellow-traveler...

"...pain that his plans would inflict on targeted countries...

BS!
It is not any of our concern/business what the home-countries of these vile, diseased, migrant-invaders suffers as a result of their return to the peace, joy, and comfort of their homes...

[toddausauras]

Free advice for our enemies from the L.A. Times.

[kaktuskid]

Looks like Mexico needs another Black Jack Pershing moment.

[Savage Beast]

Sheinbaum can respond by having a hissy when Trump dumps all of the Illegals over the Rio Grande and into Mexico.

When her hissy is over, she can figure out what to do with them.

[usurper]

The most obvious tools are ending cooperation on drugs and immigration.

What cooperation exactly is the LA Slims talking about? They have been actively supporting both. Their government is totally controlled by the cartels. Ours is 40% controlled.

If they stop all cooperation none of our LEOs on the southern border or across the nation would notice.

[Man from Oz]

I would add that a surcharge (a tax) be placed on every dollar wired back to Meehico.

MFO

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Yes indeed, and the money collected could be used for border walls. But the top priority should be complete control of the border.

[WHATNEXT?]

Absolutely, we should put a 25% fee on any money sent out of U.S. to Mexico and any country south of it. I’ve stood in line at the post office while the Mexican ahead sent $900.00 home and out of our economy. That’s most of the reason Mexico wants their people in U.S. earning money....we support their corrupt government.

[antidemoncrat]

“the incoming president has displayed an apparent unwillingness to consider the pain that his plans would inflict on targeted countries or the responses this will engender.

Yeah yeah he should be like Biden and send billions of tax payer dollars to improve life all over the world and let our veterans and destitute die in the streets.

[KC_Conspirator]

They are not on the side of Americans, its clear.

[jmaroneps37]

Whatever they try won’t work. Trump is the President of The World and the quicker these slimy third world sh&t holes accept that the better for them.