Mexican Official Says ‘We Will Never Pay For a Wall’

Last updated on September 26th, 2018 at 06:47 am

As President Donald Trump continues to brag about his great new trade deal with Mexico, the Mexican secretary of foreign affairs on Tuesday made clear that his country would never pay for a wall along the border between the two countries.

“We just reached a trade understanding with the US, and the outlook for the relationship between our two countries is very positive,” Luis Videgaray tweeted.

“We will NEVER pay for a wall, however,” he added. “That has been absolutely clear from the very beginning.”

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Videgaray’s tweet came afterTrump’s comments made during a meeting with FIFA and U.S. Soccer officials about the 2026 men’s World Cup.

After he praised a joint bid from the U.S., Mexico and Canada to host the tournament as a “great partnership,” Trump was asked about Mexico paying for his border wall.

“The wall will be paid for very easily by Mexico. It will ultimately be paid for by Mexico,” Trump told reporters.

Trump has claimed since his presidential campaign that he would build a wall on the U.S./Mexico border that would be paid for by Mexico. Last month Trump threatened to shutdown the government if he did not receive funding from Congress for the border wall.

Mexican officials have always said that they will not fund Trump‘s wall.

The president’s latest revival of calls for Mexico to pay come a day after he announced a breakthrough in trade negotiations with Mexico amid contentious talks on revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Early this morning on Twitter he was again touting the deal, writing that the upcoming deal focuses on U.S. farmers and will tear down “trade barriers” that negatively impact the U.S. economy.

“Our new Trade Deal with Mexico focuses on FARMERS, GROWTH for our country, tearing down TRADE BARRIERS, JOBS and having companies continue to POUR BACK INTO OUR COUNTRY. It will be a big hit!”

The deal, which Trump said he plans to call the “United States–Mexico Trade Agreement,” would require 75 percent of auto content to be made in U.S. and Mexico, up from 62.5 percent, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced.

Canada is not included in the initial framework, although Trump said Canada could become part of a three-nation deal if they negotiate “fairly.” Mexican officials have also said they want to see Canada join the agreement. Members of Congress have said there will be NO deal with Mexico unless Canada is included in the trade agreement.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto said in a daily video address on Tuesday that the two countries still have differences over who will pay for the wall even though progress is being made on a new trade deal.

Neither Trump nor Nieto mentioned the wall during a conference call on Monday to announce progress on the trade deal.

Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.