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‘No credit!’ Donald Trump fumes after as his US-Mexico deal comes under scrutiny

  • US president angered at media and opponents as agreement to avoid tariffs comes under scrutiny
  • On Twitter, Trump still hangs tariff threat over Mexico despite deal

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US President Donald Trump has dangled the prospect of renewing his tariff threat against Mexico if the US ally doesn’t cooperate on border issues. Photo: AP

The Trump administration has been forced to defend its immigration agreement with Mexico, amid reports that key provisions in the deal, forged under the threat of trade tariffs, were mostly old commitments agreed to months ago.

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A surge in migration to America’s southern border continues, with May bringing the highest number of monthly apprehensions made by US authorities in the past 13 years.

In the deal announced with significant self-congratulation by Donald Trump on Friday, Mexico agreed to deploy its national guard and to expand a heavily criticised programme that keeps migrants seeking asylum in the US in Mexico as their claims are processed.

Trump withdrew a threat of 5 per cent tariffs on all Mexican goods.

US President Donald Trump arrives at the White House after playing golf. Photo: AFP
US President Donald Trump arrives at the White House after playing golf. Photo: AFP
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But on the weekend The New York Times reported that Mexico had already agreed to key provisions in the joint declaration during secretive negotiations over the past six months.

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