MISSION, Texas - Border Trade Alliance Chairman Pete Sepulveda said his group opposed tariffs when he spoke on a panel discussion about trade during the Rio Grande Valley Partnership's recent 2025 RGV Legislative Tour.
That opposition was reaffirmed Sunday when President Trump announced he would be imposing a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, starting next Tuesday.
In a press release issued soon after Trump’s announcement, the BTA said tariffs are not designed to improve border affairs and trade relations among the three nations.
“The Border Trade Alliance cheered when, during his first term, President Trump passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which brought U.S. trade policy into the 21st Century and solidified North America’s position as the globe’s most economically competitive trading bloc,” Sepulveda said, in the press release.
“Slapping tariffs on the U.S.’ neighbors, friends, and leading trade partners is a major step backward. Tariffs will force domestic prices upward, undermining the president’s goal of getting inflation under control, and they risk goods marked ‘Made in the USA’ being hit with retaliatory tariffs that will cost American jobs.”
BTA President Ms. Britton Mullen said: “Imposing tariffs on our trade partners risks throwing the North American economy into chaos, costing jobs, and leading to sticker shock for American consumers at the cash register. The BTA will continue to urge the administration to live up to the letter and spirit of the USMCA and to remove this sweeping new import tax on American consumers.”
Founded in 1986, the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) is a grassroots, non-profit organization that serves as a forum for participants to address key issues affecting trade, travel and security in North America. “Working with entities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the BTA advocates on behalf of policies and initiatives designed to improve border affairs and trade relations among the three nations,” the group states, on its website.
BTA says it is North America’s premier authority on issues affecting the U.S. northern and southern borders, representing a large grassroots network of over 4.2 million public and private sector representatives, including business leaders, chambers of commerce and industry, academic institutions, economic development corporations, industrial parks, transport companies, customs brokers, defense companies, manufacturers and state and local government agencies.
According to BBC News, Canada and Mexico stand ready to retaliate with tariffs against U.S. imports. “But Trump has indicated he could escalate the duties further if the countries retaliate.
From the BBC News story:
"Today's tariff announcement is necessary to hold China, Mexico, and Canada accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the United States," the White House said in a statement on X on Saturday.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: "This was done through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl."
The BBC News story points out that together, China, Mexico and Canada accounted for more than 40 percent of imports into the US last year.
“Canada, Mexico and the US have deeply integrated economies, with an estimated $2 billion worth of manufactured goods crossing the borders daily,” the story states.
“In its announcement, the White House accused Mexico's government of having ‘an intolerable alliance’ with Mexican drug trafficking organizations.
“In her response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called allegations that the Mexican government had alliances with criminal organizations ‘slander’.”
