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Guest Essay

By Ted Genoways

Mr. Genoways is the author of the forthcoming book “Tequila Wars: José Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico.”

President Trump’s Mexico agenda mostly revolves around his obsession with what he calls the “chaos” at the border. How ironic, then, that his proposed solution of tariffs is bound to generate chaos at the border by creating powerful incentives for black market trade.

On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced a slew of tariffs affecting many countries. He has previously threatened steep tariffs on Mexican products, arguing that the punitive move will force Mexico to address the problems caused by drug smuggling into the United States. But a sudden spike in the price of all goods........

© The New York Times