Two hundred and fifty-two million dollars a day cross the border between Mexico and the United States, an amount that represents the large number of auto parts that is produced in the Aztec country and that will affect the North American automobile industry if President Trump fulfills his threat to close the border.
The representatives of the main automobile manufacturers in the United States warned about the closure of the border with Mexico, because it is a decision that would cause serious problems to the industry.
The Alliance of Auto Manufacturers, which represents some of the world’s top automobile manufacturers and produces 70% of the vehicles sold in the United States, asked in a statement, to avoid closing the border.
The group, which includes companies such as BMW, Fiat Chrysler (FCA), Ford, General Motors (GM), Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, the Volkswagen group and Volvo, said that US assemblers depend on parts and components produced in Mexico.
“In many instances, the auto parts can cross the border multiple times before being integrated in the final assembly of a vehicle. We urge all parties to work together to avert a border closing that would result in significant disruptions to the North American auto industry,” the group said.
Almost 40% of the components needed to produce vehicles in the United States come from Mexico. Only last year, car manufacturers in the United States imported nearly $ 60 billion of components produced in Mexico.
The Alliance of Auto Manufacturers added that “the cost of all this will fall upon our costumers and make it more difficult for them to be able to afford a new vehicle that is cleaner, safer and more energy- efficient “.
In addition to the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers, the group that represents the three US manufacturers (GM, Ford and FCA), American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) also expressed concern about the possible border closure and its impact on the industry.
AAPC said in a statement that the border closing “would be harmful to the US economy and in particular the auto industry.”
The reaction of the auto industry comes hours after Trump threatened to close the border with Mexico with the argument that “security is more important than trade” referring to the immigrant´s arrival to the southern border of the country.
And last Friday, Trump said on Twitter that “if Mexico doesn´t immediately stop all illegal immigration coming into the United States through our Southern Border, I will be closing the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week.”
Translated by: José Espinoza
Noticias Newswire
