Staff Reports
In a move that has conservatives doing a bit of a victory dance, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has announced a hefty 27% tariff on Mexican imports. This decision harkens back to the swaggering trade policies once championed by the one-and-only Donald Trump. It seems Noboa is not just keeping an eye on his local economy but also trying to cozy up to Washington in the process.
Noboa’s reasoning for the tariff is straightforward: boost local manufacturers. Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned protectionist policy? In an era when many countries are butting heads over trade, it’s refreshing to see a leader take a page from the Trump playbook, indicating that sometimes, when life gives you lemons (or cheap Mexican goods), it might be best to squeeze them into a hefty tariff instead.
Ecuador’s conservative president announces tariffs on Mexican exports in an echo of Trump policyhttps://t.co/0zH15rzhlN pic.twitter.com/rerMHdcBsO
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 4, 2025
Now, let’s not overlook the timing of this announcement. Just as Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum put the brakes on a similar tariff proposal while they negotiate over immigration issues, Noboa drops this tariff bomb. It’s almost as if he’s saying, “Hey, I’ll take a proactive approach while you two are busy chatting.” True, trade between Ecuador and Mexico barely registers on the radar, making up less than 1% of Mexico’s total exports, but this is about setting a precedent, not just about dollars and cents.
The backdrop of Noboa’s announcement is also quite the drama. Ecuador and Mexico are in a spat over diplomatic ties, a situation that escalated last year when Ecuadorian police stormed the Mexican Embassy in pursuit of former Vice President Jorge Glas. Ecuador claims Glas is a fraudster, while Mexico is playing the role of protective parent, having granted him political asylum. It’s safe to say that Noboa’s decision is as much a jab at Mexico as it is an economic strategy.
Not one to shy away from the spotlight, Noboa is currently in the midst of an electoral campaign himself, trying to solidify his position after snagging a less-than-ideal interim term. With connections to both his banana fortune and the Trump administration, it is interesting to see how a pro-American agenda could resonate in South America. Noboa has already praised Trump’s presidency as a boon for the region, and this latest tariff scheme could easily be seen as an endorsement of America-first policies across the border.
