Mexico to Trump: 'Social problems do not solve with taxes'

In response to Washington's announcement of tariffs on Mexican products, López Obrador states that the motto "United States First" is a "fallacy"

Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador responded to US President Donald Trump's tariff threats and said in a letter sent to the Republican that "social problems can not be solved by taxes or coercive measures."

Obrador also affirmed that the Trump government's motto "United States First" is a "fallacy" and that Mexico, contrary to Washington's claims, is fulfilling "as far as possible and without violating human rights" the commitment of to avoid the traffic of immigrants from Central American countries to the American territory.

"Humans do not abandon their people by wanting, but by necessity," he wrote in the message, shared on his Twitter page.

"With all due respect, even if it has the sovereign right to express it, the motto 'United States first' is a fallacy, because until the end of time, even across national borders, universal justice and brotherhood will prevail" .

Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs on July 10 if Mexico does not stop the flow of illegal immigration from Central America to the United States.

A White House statement released after the US president's message informs that import tariffs on Mexican products will be raised to 10 percent on July 1, "if the crisis persists." Then, they will increase another 5% each month, for three months, until reaching 25% on October 1st.

During a routine press conference on Friday, President López Obrador said he would respond with "great caution" to the tariff threats and urged Mexicans to unite to deal with this challenge.

The president also announced that Mexico's foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, will go to Washington on a mission to convince the US government that Trump's measures do not serve the interests of any country.

Mexico has the United States as its main trading partner, to which it destines more than 80% of its exports. The two countries share 3,200 km of a border that many illegal immigrants, weapons and drugs pass through.

Since last October, Mexico has been seized by waves of migrants, mostly Central Americans, who are trying to reach the United States by fleeing violence in their countries.

Trump had already threatened Mexico with the closure of the border if the neighbor did not stop the influx of illegal immigrants.

After coming to Mexico's presidency in December, leftist López Obrador relaxed immigration controls, which multiplied the influx of migrants.

According to Trump, on Wednesday 29 1,036 illegal immigrants who crossed the border between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso (Texas), a record number, were detained.