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Thursday, January 26, 2017

Wall row: Trump says US and Mexico mutually agreed to scrap talks

Donald Trump has suggested he and Mexico's president both agreed to cancel next week's meeting amid a deepening row over US plans for a border wall.

The American leader suggested the scheduled talks in Washington DC on Tuesday would have been "fruitless" as Enrique Pena Nieto is still refusing to pay for the controversial barrier.

Mr Trump has said US taxpayers will initially fund the wall, while insisting its southern neighbour will eventually "100%" foot the bill as he accused Mexico of not treating America "fairly" and "with respect".

The Republican billionaire wants to pay for the barrier with a border tax that would be part of a tax reform package, according to the White House.

The war of words saw Mr Pena Nieto saying he would scrap the meeting after Mr Trump himself earlier threatened to cancel the talks.

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The US President, who flew to Philadelphia to meet leading Republicans at a party retreat, tweeted: "The U.S. has a 60 billion dollar trade deficit with Mexico. It has been a one-sided deal from the beginning of NAFTA with massive numbers...

"... of jobs and companies lost. If Mexico is unwilling to pay for the badly needed wall, then it would be better to cancel the upcoming meeting."

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