Sen. Ron Johnson: Trump leveraged tariffs 'brilliantly' in gaining border dealWashington Times, Jun 9, 2019, Valerie Richardson
Sen. Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican, said Sunday that President Trump negotiated “brilliantly†with Mexico by securing a border-security deal days after threatening to impose tariffs.
“In general, Republicans understand tariffs are attacks on American consumers, and we don’t want to see them in place long term, not do I believe President Trump does, either,†Mr. Johnson told “Fox News Sunday.†“He’s using tariffs as leverage in trade negotiations, and I think he used them as leverage in this situation brilliantly, quite honestly.â€
Mr. Trump announced Friday he would suspend his threat of a tariff starting at 5 percent and rising as high as 25 percent after reaching an agreement with Mexico on border security.
That deal includes deploying 6,000 National Guard troops with a focus on its southern border to stem the tide of illegal immigrants crossing from Central America on their way to the United States, as well as expand a program keeping asylum-seekers in Mexico as they await the results of their cases.
Mr. Johnson, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said he contacted the Mexican ambassador to the U.S. to underscore the seriousness of the president’s threat.
“I called the Mexican ambassador and said, ‘Regardless of what you read in the press, understand, if the president imposes tariffs, he’s dead serious about this,’†Mr. Johnson said. “There are not votes to override it, so take that threat very seriously. You know you have to do more.â€
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