President Trump ordered tariffs Thursday on imported steel and aluminum from Canada, Mexico and the European Union, prompting criticism from U.S. allies, who said they will introduce retaliatory sanctions. The European Union said it would challenge the U.S. tariffs at the World Trade Organization. The tariffs came as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement—NAFTA—broke down after Vice President Mike Pence insisted that any new deal include a 5-year “sunset” clause. Meanwhile, Mexico blasted the tariffs as the latest insult by a hostile Trump administration. This is Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray.
Luis Videgaray Caso: “Mexico’s position on trade—or on immigration or on security or on whatever area of cooperation with the United States—will not vary, not because of offensive rhetoric, nor unjustified unilateral measures like this type. We will continue to defend the interests of Mexico just as we have done until now.”