President Donald Trump has temporarily paused his planned 25% tariffs on all Mexican goods, which are now set to take effect on April 4. While Mexican economists warn that a prolonged tariff war could push the country into zero growth—or even a recession, U.S. political experts argue that such economic pressure could backfire. A struggling Mexico, they say, may be less willing—or less able—to cooperate with Trump's mass deportation efforts.
"You can't have both," said Michael Montgomery, a Reagan-era U.S. diplomat turned political science professor. "Mass deportations need Mexico's cooperation—you can bus people to Mexico, but the host country has to agree to accept them," Montgomery told The Latin Times.
