Exports to the U.S. make up about 30% of Mexican economy

And all the payroll dollars paid out to the illegal Mexican labor force working in the US and sending that money back to Mexico make up about another 30%.

Not including drugs I assume. Prob closer to 95% then

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The question is whether a 20% (or possibly less) tariff will be enough to completely discourage trade or just increase prices for the US? Also, will Mexico impose a tariff too? Too many variables at this point.

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frick it.

Let's just do it and find out.

frick Mexico.

I guarantee you that 60% or more of their GDP is U.S. funded one way or the other ... exports, drugs, illegals' money sent back via Western Union, tourist dollars, etc.

Leverage.

When you factor in narco money, tourism and money sent back from Illegals in the US, it's probably 70%-80%.

What automobiles are made in Mexico?

Put a 20% tax on them, and they will move production to the states.

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The question is whether a 20% (or possibly less) tariff will be enough to completely discourage trade or just increase prices for the US? Also, will Mexico impose a tariff too? Too many variables at this point.

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They already do. Their VAT tax is essentially a tariff as far as our goods to them are concerned.

NAFTA has only been free trade from Mexico to the US and from Canada to the US.

Both Mexico and Canada have a VAT. (Canada calls their something else but it is still a tax)

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When we got rid of tariffs we undercut the wages of all American workers because companies could produce products in countries with lower labor standard and wages, ship them here and sell them at a profit. This is known as the arbitrage of labor and it was done on purpose to drive down wages for all workers in the US. We need to bring back tariffs because it will encourage to buy American made goods and will ultimately help the American worker.

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Not many people realize this. Add that to what unrestricted immigration did to wages in America, and you'll see who the winners and losers are and know why our middle class has gone the way of the dodo.

Make no mistake about it: the oligarchs want a 2 tier system-them and us. Free trade with a 3rd world country was an attempt to achieve that, and it has worked spectacularly. Now we'll see if we can come back from the brink and restore the American dream.

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That's basically their sales tax mechanism and is applicable for both imports and domestic goods/services, with a few exceptions

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Of course it is their national sales tax, but because they lower the tax on their companies their domestic produced goods are cheaper for the same item than if we imported it to them. That is why it functions like a tariff to imports.

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The question is whether a 20% (or possibly less) tariff will be enough to completely discourage trade or just increase prices for the US?

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They won't raise prices enough for it to really affect anyone in the US. We don't use Mexican products because of their quality. We use them because of their prices. Their prices aren't significantly less than their competitors. Mexican products prices might go up, but they still have to compete.