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I don't know if he got "rolled." The Mexican government through it's various spokespeople over the last 48h have been vague about commitments made by either side. Even the Agriculture Commissioner, interviewed on Face the Nation on Sunday, reportedly sidestepped direct questions about Trump's assertion that Mexico is going to increase purchases of US agricultural products. She wouldn't say that was an accurate statement by Trump as it applies to the recent negotiations or it wasn't. She said trade would increase between the two countries and we are each other's #1 trading partners where as before we were #2 or #3.
The real measure of whatever immigration agreements were agreed upon - and IMO it does not matter when they were agreed upon - going forward is whether Mexico will accept more immigrants turned away at the US boarder under MPP...... and if MPP stands up in the courts after legal challenges to it. I think it is pretty clear that Mexico did not or has not agree(d) to "safe third country" policies. It seems to me that trump wants to use the threat of tariffs on Mexican imports to make sure Mexico is willing to cooperate with the US under MPP in significantly reducing the number of all types or classes of immigrants flowing across the Mexican/US boarder and into the US given that it won't agree to the more stringent "safe third country" policies .
What strikes me as questionable global strategy or tactics is Trump's threats to use sanctions or tariffs with China, NK, Iran as a means of diplomacy. The reason for that is there is never anything conclusive coming out of diplomatic negotiations after the threats are made. Outcomes are deferred putting the world in a wait and see posture to determine if these kinds of strong-arm tactics can be effective within the context of US diplomacy, strategic policy and interests.
My take is that while there is potential, Trump is walking a tight rope politically at home and internationally with a high risk of abysmal or even catastrophic failure should the target countries of these tactics simply say fuck-off. The bottom line is that Trump has about another 6 months left to obtain objectively measurable results on trade, immigration and denuclearization. Failing that, he absolutely deserves to be pilloried and the Ds and will do that if they have any sense but then again ..... shrugs. His Support among Rs is also going to decrease as it becomes apparent to voters who are paying attention that Trump is a blowhard who has achieved nothing diplomatically positive for the US during his first term.
The real measure of whatever immigration agreements were agreed upon - and IMO it does not matter when they were agreed upon - going forward is whether Mexico will accept more immigrants turned away at the US boarder under MPP...... and if MPP stands up in the courts after legal challenges to it. I think it is pretty clear that Mexico did not or has not agree(d) to "safe third country" policies. It seems to me that trump wants to use the threat of tariffs on Mexican imports to make sure Mexico is willing to cooperate with the US under MPP in significantly reducing the number of all types or classes of immigrants flowing across the Mexican/US boarder and into the US given that it won't agree to the more stringent "safe third country" policies .
What strikes me as questionable global strategy or tactics is Trump's threats to use sanctions or tariffs with China, NK, Iran as a means of diplomacy. The reason for that is there is never anything conclusive coming out of diplomatic negotiations after the threats are made. Outcomes are deferred putting the world in a wait and see posture to determine if these kinds of strong-arm tactics can be effective within the context of US diplomacy, strategic policy and interests.
My take is that while there is potential, Trump is walking a tight rope politically at home and internationally with a high risk of abysmal or even catastrophic failure should the target countries of these tactics simply say fuck-off. The bottom line is that Trump has about another 6 months left to obtain objectively measurable results on trade, immigration and denuclearization. Failing that, he absolutely deserves to be pilloried and the Ds and will do that if they have any sense but then again ..... shrugs. His Support among Rs is also going to decrease as it becomes apparent to voters who are paying attention that Trump is a blowhard who has achieved nothing diplomatically positive for the US during his first term.
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