Michigan Democrat: Trump ‘threw a grenade’ in middle of new NAFTA talks with tariff threat

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said Tuesday that President Trump’s now suspended threat to impose tariffs on Mexico was a “grenade” in trade negotiations with Mexico and Canada. 

“From a state that would have been the most impacted by these tariffs, he threw a grenade into the middle of these negotiations,” she told CNN, specifically referring to Michigan’s auto industry. {mosads}

Dingell also said she believes a new trade deal is necessary to help Michigan’s workers compete.

“They were making progress and he lobbed a grenade that really hurt the progress of those talks,” she said. 

She added that now she believes the negotiations are getting “back on track.”

“The tariffs issue just totally blew up constructive conversations, though I think we’re getting back on track,” she said.  

“I’m one of the most likely democrats to support this deal when we get these tweaks in place. And the tariff issue just totally blew up constructive conversations.” @repdebdingell says Trump “threw a grenade” in the middle of the new NAFTA. pic.twitter.com/Pq2sstPwl9

— Kate Bolduan (@KateBolduan) June 11, 2019

The Trump administration has been negotiating North American trade in a deal dubbed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Trump said last week that he would suspend his plans to impose a 5 percent tariff on Mexican imports, which could have increased to 25 percent by October if his administration determined the country was not doing enough to prevent illegal immigration into the U.S. across the nations’ shared border.