Mexico dismisses Trump's proposed tariffs on imported autos
Mexico City, May 26 : Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo has dismissed as "bombast" the latest US proposal to impose tariffs on imports of foreign vehicles and auto parts.
Appearing on a television news show on Friday, the minister, who heads Mexico's negotiating team in talks with the US and Canada to renegotiate the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), rejected the idea of introducing a new, higher tax on vehicles imported into the US, Xinhua reported.
"What one has to understand is that our strategy and negotiating process cannot change because of this bombast that they launched over there," said Guajardo.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has instructed Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to consider initiating a national security investigation into automobile imports.
Ross has initiated a so-called Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of automobile imports, according to the US Commerce Department.
Guajardo ridiculed the idea, joking that "over there, on the comedy shows, they say that having a Mercedes in Manhattan is a national security risk."
The US proposal was widely seen as an attempt to pressure Mexico into agreeing to other US demands, such as changes to the rules of origin for automobiles, but the tactic failed to sway Mexico.
"The more noise this bombast makes, the more we should concentrate and commit to a solid, well thought out strategy," Guajardo added.
He estimated there is a 40 per cent chance NAFTA's partners will be able to negotiate a new deal before Mexico holds presidential elections on July 1.
The trade deal has been under negotiation since August on the insistence of Trump, who believes the terms benefit Mexico and Canada at his country's expense.
According to Mexico, NAFTA has benefited the North American automobile industry as a whole, today the world's third-largest, after the European Union and China.
Each US-made automobile contains $3,800-worth of Mexican parts, while each Mexican-made vehicle contains $5,500-worth of US parts, Mexican government figures show.
The NAFTA region manufactures 18 million vehicles a year, with 12.5 million produced in the US.
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Kane scores hat trick and Bayern extends Bundesliga lead to 11 points
Berlin (AP): Harry Kane was substituted in at the hour mark and still had enough time to score a hat trick on Saturday.
The England captain took his goal tally for Bayern Munich this season to 28 and the defending champions extended their lead to 11 points after thrashing Stuttgart 5-0 on the road.
Second-placed Leipzig later hosted Eintracht Frankfurt.
With Kane on the bench, Konrad Laimer took on the scoring duties and produced a superb finish. The Austria midfielder collected a long ball and combined with Michael Olise before slotting home from close range with a subtle backheel past goalkeeper Alexander Nübel in the 11th minute.
Kane made it 2-0 with a low shot into the bottom corner and Josip Stanišic added his name to the scoresheet. Kane added further luster to the win from the penalty spot after Stuttgart was reduced to 10 men for Lorenz Assignon using his arm to clear a ball in the 81st.
Kane completed the rout with a flick from an Olise cross with two minutes left. He has found the net five more times with England this season, taking his total to 33 goals for club and country.
Stuttgart had chances before halftime but lacked a cutting edge. Midfielder Nikolas Nartey thought he equalized only for his goal to be ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
Bayern Munich is unbeaten in 16 league and cup games against German opposition this season.
Other results
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Bayer Leverkusen suffered a fourth loss, 2-0 at Augsburg.
Defender Dimitrios Giannoulis put the host in front after six minutes then turned provider to set up forward Anton Kade. Leverkusen, which hit the woodwork, remained in fourth place, 14 points behind Bayern.
Wolfsburg scored from all of its shots on target and moved four points clear of the relegation zone after beating Union Berlin 3-1. Heidenheim defeated Freiburg 2-1. Cologne and St. Pauli drew 1-1.
