Mexico says paying for US border wall ‘totally unacceptable’

Washington, Jan 27 (IANS) A top Mexican official has brushed aside as "totally unacceptable" the suggestion that Mexico would have to pay for US President Donald Trump's planned border wall -- the demand that led to the cancellation of the two countries' leaders' first meeting next week, media reports said.

Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray told the press at the Mexican Embassy in Washington on Thursday that Mexico respected the US's prerogative to protect its borders, but that Mexico "simply cannot accept the concept of a neighbour paying for your wall", CNN reported.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto cancelled a meeting with Trump that had been set for next week after renewed tensions erupted over Trump's plan to build a wall on the border gthat would keep the illegal immigrants out.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump tweeted that it would be better to skip the meeting if his Mexican counterpart continued to insist Mexico would not pay for the wall.

In response, Pena Nieto later in the day said in a tweet: "We have informed the White House that I will not attend the meeting scheduled for next Tuesday with the POTUS (President of the US)."

"There are issues that are (unacceptable) for dignity, which have nothing to do with exports or the economy, but with the heart and pride of the Mexicans," Efe news cited Luis Videgaray as saying.

"Just as we offer respect, we Mexicans must respect ourselves, our history and national symbols," he continued.

The planned wall was one of Trump's key election campaign pledges. Earlier this week, he signed an executive order to create the wall along the 3,200-km US-Mexico border, the BBC said.

Videgaray appeared before the media along with Mexican Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo at the end of their two-day visit to Washington to prepare for the meeting.

He said he was in a meeting with White House staff setting out protocols and logistics for Pena Nieto's visit when he heard about Trump's tweet.

"We then asked for a break in the meeting and I quickly called (Pena Nieto). He had already seen it, through social media, and the President gave me instructions to communicate in a cordial and respectful manner to the White House that due to this statement it was inviable to have the meeting."

Videgaray said his government's stance over the wall was "not a negotiating strategy".

Meanwhile, the White House on Thursday said Trump was considering a 20 per cent tax on imports from Mexico to pay for a southern border wall, but that he was still weighing other options.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that Trump was backing the proposal and had just discussed it with congressional Republicans in a private meeting.

Hours later, amid an uproar from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, Spicer said that he was simply putting forward one idea Trump was considering to show how the administration could fund the multi-billion dollar construction of the wall.

In response, Videgaray said, "Mexico will not react to the proposal until we see action", CNN reported.

"Let's not put too much energy or attention into something that is a speculation. I can tell you that if you tax exports from Mexico into the US, you're going to make things ranging from avocados, to appliances to flat screen TVs more expensive and that is going to be paid by the American consumer."

Several Republicans have voiced their concerns over Trump's ongoing feud with Mexico saying the new President is starting a "trade war" with one of the country's most significant trading partners.

"Many unanswered questions about proposed 'border adjustment' tax," tweeted Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn.

Senator Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, said: "Border security yes, tariffs no. Mexico is third largest trading partner. Any tariff we can levy they can levy. Huge barrier to economic growth. Simply put, any policy proposal which drives up costs of Corona, tequila, or margaritas is a big-time bad idea."