CEO DATELINE - Business groups protest Trump threat to close U.S.-Mexico border
CEO DATELINE - Business groups protest Trump threat to close U.S.-Mexico border
- April 2, 2019 |
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Walt Williams
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At least three associations are warning that President Donald Trump's threat to close the U.S.-Mexico border could have dire economic consequences if he follows through on his promise.
Trump threatened to shut down the border in a tweet last week to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. However, closing the border would mean cutting off access to one of the country's largest trading partners, as the United Fresh Produce Association noted in a statement.
"These steps will cause significant harm to growers, wholesale distributors, transportation companies, grocery stores, restaurants and most importantly, U.S. consumers. … If these actions are implemented, the Administration will cause millions in economic losses while increasing costs to consumers across North America," United Fresh said.
The National Association of Manufacturers outlined the potential economic costs of a border closure, pointing out that nearly 1 million U.S. manufacturing jobs are tied to exports to Mexico.
"The NAM has been to the border to witness the situation firsthand," CEO Jay Timmons said in a statement. "Congress absolutely must tackle comprehensive immigration reform immediately to address the real national security and humanitarian concerns that are a direct result of our current broken system."
In a statement, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also called on Congress to take action on immigration reform. However, it warned against shutting down the border before that is done.
"U.S. trade with Mexico exceeds $1.7 billion daily, and nearly half a million people legally cross the southern border every day as workers, students, shoppers and tourists," said Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer for the Chamber. "Even threatening to close the border to legitimate commerce and travel creates a degree of economic uncertainty that risks compromising the very gains in growth and productivity that policies of the Trump Administration have helped achieve."
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