Royal Rumble: Carlos Slim Vs Donald Trump

In an exceedingly rare public news conference for Carlos Slim (reclusive), Mexico’s richest man called on all of Mexico to unite behind President Pedro Nieto so that Mexico can come to the negotiating table from a position of strength.

As valiant as that is, Slim is fucking delusional if he thinks Mexico can have anything resembling strength in their position. Last year, Mexican exports totaled $373 billion, excluding illegal immigrant whose value is incalculable (if you ask a democrat).

Of that $373 BILLION DOLLARS, $302 bilion was exported to the United States. Yeah, you read that right, 81% of Mexico’s exports come to the US. On top of that, the United States (thanks to NAFTA) exported $179 billion to Mexico (46% of their imports) to be used in the production of NAFTA goods. Ouch.

A quick sidenote for those of you who insist that NAFTA was terrible, NAFTA has been a hugely-successful trade agreement for the United States, get a freaking grip on reality.

Now, back to our story.

Carlos Slim wants to sit at the table with Trump to negotiate what will tantamount to us piling on. There will be no tariffs, there will be no trade war with Mexico.

There will be the United States demanding what it wants and an acquiescent Mexican government genuflecting and doing what they’re told, with Carlos Slim securing some sweeteners for himself.

He apparently doesn’t realize that in his attempts to bolster the Mexican “position of strength”, Carlos Slim has revealed the fear he holds in his heart. When he says things like this:

“He is not the Terminator, he’s a great negotiator.”

He must be scared, to volunteer in an attempt to salvage NAFTA. Whether that fear is due to the ineptitude of Nieto or the prowess of Trump, it is fear, just the same.

Fear is not your friend at the negotiating table.