FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2025
Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov
Washington, DC – Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44) recently traveled to Mexico in the middle of Donald Trump’s trade and tariff chaos to meet with members of the Mexican Congress, Mexico’s Speaker of the House, and Mexican business leaders. Her trip came in between Trump’s initial round of tariffs against Mexico and Canada and yesterday’s announcement of expansive, multi-country tariffs. While in Mexico City, Barragán took part in a binational dialogue at the Congress of Mexico, where she warned that tariffs would severely harm a long-term global friendship and trading partnership, and would force American families to pay significantly more for groceries, cars, and electronics. She made clear that the U.S. should continue to negotiate on fair trade deals and work to strengthen U.S.-Mexico relations – rather than try to bully our neighbor and friends to the South because a trade war would only harm both countries.
“Tariffs should be a precision tool, not a sledgehammer,” said Rep. Barragán. “Instead of targeted policies that hold bad actors accountable, Trump is launching an all-out trade war that will jack-up prices on everyday items, hurt working Americans, and isolate even more from our closest allies. He started with an assault on Mexico and Canada and just announced an almost indiscriminate tariff program against countries around the world. Other countries will retaliate, and hardworking Americans stand to lose in all of this – with higher prices for groceries, cars, clothes, and other essential items.”
“Mexico is our neighbor, largest trading partner, and an essential ally,” Rep. Barragán added. “ That’s why it was important for me to meet and talk with Mexican officials, members of Congress, and business leaders to let them know many in Congress and in the U.S. business community still support smart, strategic trade policies, not Trump’s reckless economic warfare that punishes American families at the checkout aisle.”
The Congresswoman was joined by Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) and U.S. state and local elected officials and business leaders on her trip to Mexico.
Watch her remarks here: HERE
###