Commentary: The Washington Post recently published transcripts it obtained of a telephone conversation that President Donald Trump had with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto after his inauguration in January. The conversation covers trade, illegal drug smuggling, and Trump’s initiative to build a border wall between the two countries. It also reveals some key points about Trump’s view of U.S.-Mexico relations.
My first impression after reading the transcript with Peña Nieto was how difficult it was to follow Trump’s banter, as free association seems to creep into his thoughts and he jumps from subject to subject. Trump’s rambling makes Peña Nieto look like a polished diplomat, even though the Mexican president has a long list of public snafus, and his popularity ratings have suffered throughout his term. At face value, it seems that the two presidents have a good rapport and they are extremely civil to each other.
Trump brings up the illegal drug trade with Peña Nieto by stating, “You have some pretty tough hombres in Mexico that you may need help with, and we are willing to help you with that big-league. But they have to be knocked out and you have not done a good job of knocking them out.” He also refers to New Hampshire as a “drug infested den,” which later got him criticized by politicians from that state. In this passage, Trump seems to imply that Mexico needs to step aside and let the U.S. battle the drug elements, indicating that the U.S. alone can end illegal drug trafficking. Peña Nieto tells Trump that “In terms of security, Mr. President, it is clear that organized crime is just as much our enemy as it is the enemy of your administration.”
On trade, Trump states that “We put on a border tariff so that products coming in from Mexico to the United States would be taxed at a rate to be determined.” This is a curious statement given that fact that his administration has not enacted a tax on products imported from Mexico. He goes on to contradict himself by referring to a potential tax, “But you know, it could be 10 percent or 15 percent or it could be 35 percent for some products that, for example, are jobs ripped from their foundation and moved to Mexico. Most would be in the 10 to 15 percent range. That would make us very even with Mexico and it would make a lot of sense.” Trump later acknowledges that this tactic may result in a tariff war, “Now, Mexico may in turn try to do something like that to us. Since we have such a deficit, it gives us the advantage. In addition, I was going to very strongly say this to Mexico and other countries – that everything is reciprocal. So, if Mexico adds a tax, we will add a tax.”
Perhaps, the most revealing portion of the conversation deals with Trump’s proposed border wall, which he used as a political tool on the campaign trail to whip his supporters into a frenzy. Trump states, “The only thing I will ask you though is on the wall, you and I both have a political problem. So, what I would like to recommend is – if we are going to have continued dialogue – we will work out the wall. They are going to say, ‘who is going to pay for the wall, Mr. President?’ to both of us, and we should both say, ‘we will work it out.’ It will work out in the formula somehow. As opposed to you saying, ‘we will not pay’ and me saying, ‘we will not pay’. Believe it or not, this is the least important thing that we are talking about, but politically this might be the most important talk about. But in terms of dollars – or pesos – it is the least important thing. I know how to build very inexpensively, so it will be much lower than these numbers I am being presented with, and it will be a better wall and it will look nice. And it will do the job.”
Peña Nieto responds in no uncertain terms, “You have a very big mark on our back, Mr. President, regarding who pays for the wall. This is what I suggest, Mr. President – let us stop talking about the wall. I have recognized the right of any government to protect its borders as it deems necessary and convenient. But my position has been and will continue to be very firm saying that Mexico cannot pay for that wall.” To this statement Trump concedes, “Okay, Enrique, that is fine and I think it is fair. I do not bring up the wall but when the press brings up the wall, I will say, “let us see how it is going – let us see how it is working out with Mexico.”
In Trump’s response, it is clear that in his mind the wall is a purely political issue which he needs to maintain his façade with the public. He is clearly asking the Mexican president to be complicit in this tactic.
In closing the call, Peña Nieto states, “I know that we want to build a friendship between both of us and to work for the betterment of our societies. So, let us move on that position and let us look twice at what is obstructing us and move forward on a path to build together.” Trump closes by saying, “Well, it is my honor and we will have a great success.” So, after some meandering and difficult discussion, the leaders of the North American neighbors end in a warm and cordial goodbye, which given the rhetoric from Washington, D.C., is encouraging. The transcript can be found on the Washington Post’s website (washingtonpost.com)
Jerry Pacheco is President of the Border Industrial Association. His columns appear in The Albuquerque Journal.