Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump said that he will not “do business” with nations that refuse to take back their illegal immigrants who are deported from the U.S.
Trump’s provocative statement was included in his Time magazine interview released on Thursday that declared him the outlet’s “Person of the Year.”
“I’ll get them into every country, or we won’t do business with those countries,” Trump said.
“I want them out, and the countries have got to take them back, and if they don’t take them back, we won’t do business with those countries, and we will tariff those countries very substantially,” he added. “When they send products in, they will have substantial tariffs, and it’s going to make it very hard for them to do business with us.”
The strong words come after Trump wrote on his Truth Social account last month that he plans to impose tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China on his first day in office.
“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before. Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Trump wrote.
“This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” he continued.
Trump specifically addressed China in a second post, noting plans of a 10 percent tariff on goods from the nation.
“I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail. Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,” Trump stated.
“Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he added.
