Trump's promised Mexico tariffs appeal to his base but pose big political risk in 2020
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's dramatic threat to slap tariffs on all Mexican imports until Mexico does more to block migrants from entering the U.S. sends a powerful message to his political supporters, bringing together his signature nationalist issues of trade and immigration in one bombshell initiative.
But if the sharply escalating tariffs are imposed, it could pose a major political risk to Trump in the 2020 race and to one of his top legislative priorities, a revised North American trade agreement.
Economists say the steep and broad tariffs on America's third-largest trading partner could rattle the U.S. economy, whose strength is one of Trump's most important political assets in his reelection bid. Stock markets fell broadly around the world Friday, with the Dow Jones industrial average dropping 354 points, or 1.41%.
"The biggest thing Trump has in his favor going into reelection is the economy,"
