And so it begins...

Donald Trump's tough talk on Mexico and NAFTA was dangerous during the campaign and now that he is president the realities and consequences of his rhetoric are about to be felt by all of us.

Trump has alienated Mexico, one of the United States' most important allies.

Obviously, Mexico, based on its geographic location, provides a natural border and safe zone for the United States. Having one of our closest allies to our south, coupled with the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans protecting our Western and Eastern borders and friendly Canada to the North, the United States is safe from enemy invaders.

That safety, as well as our economic and agricultural health, is being jeopardized by the man 60,000,000 elected to Make America Great Again.

It goes without saying that the United States-Mexico relationship is a valuable one. Should Mexico find it necessary to seek allies with other world powers, such as China or Russia, the security of our southern border would be jeopardized.

Could you imagine how differently the Cold War could have turned out had the Soviet Union secured military bases in Mexico? How safe would you feel with Chinese military bases just miles off the Texas border?

No, Trump's see through wall isn't going to protect us from that threat.

An even harsher reality is the fact that Trump's "tough" talk about NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, already has prompted Mexico to seek other trade partners.

Why does that matter?

Mexico is the No. 1 importer of USA agricultural exports. The Mexican people import $17.9 BILLION worth of agricultural goods ($2.6 billion in corn, $1.5 billion in soybeans, $1.3 billion in pork, $1.2 billion in dairy, and $1 billion in prepared products round out the top five). 

Sure, the 60,000,000 idiots that voted Trump will dismiss this but the farmers, many of whom voted for Trump, aren't as excited.

“Mr. President, America’s corn farmers helped elect you,” reads a statement by the National Corn Growers Association. “Withdrawing from NAFTA would be disastrous for American agriculture. We cannot disrupt trade with two of our top trade partners and allies. This decision will cost America’s farmers and ranchers markets that we will never recover.”

In May, Mexico's government began talks with other nations as a guaranty to protect the Mexican people and their food supplies.

Mexican government officials, along with executives from 16 industry groups, traveled to Argentina and Brazil to discuss new deals on corn and other grains. 

“We are going to negotiate prices and contracts for supplies of yellow corn, soybeans, wheat and rice as a viable alternative to U.S. imports,” said Raul Urteaga, the Mexican Agriculture Ministry’s coordinator of international affairs. “This is all because of the persistent rhetoric and threats from Washington.”

Earlier this year, Mexico purchased 38,000 metric tons of corn from Adecoagro SA, an Argentine company. It was the first non-US purchase by Mexico in years.

According to a July 6, 2017 article by Bloomberg, "Mexico is no longer the biggest buyer of corn from the U.S.,  a sign that trade tensions are pushing American grain toward other markets while its southern neighbor lines up new suppliers."

Japan is now the largest importer of American corn. 

Also from Bloomberg: "In May, a Mexican livestock group signed a contract to import 60,000 tons from Brazil. The same month, Francisco Gurria Trevino, a Mexican government official in charge of livestock policy, said his country may import as much as 5 million tons of corn from Brazil in the medium-to-long term."

Again, the farmers, including those who voted for Trump, responded.

"Since the Trump administration announced its intention to renegotiate NAFTA, grain groups such as the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) have urged the government to not harm its trade relationships with Canada and Mexico," Bloomberg wrote.

Chandler Goule, the chief executive officer of NAWG, said this:

"NAFTA has been one of the most advantageous trade agreements for wheat farmers in U.S. history. By removing import tariffs, NAFTA has established a crucial market for wheat producers in Mexico.”

Despite the mounting evidence, Trump's supporters haven't flinched. They still believe Donald Trump will Make America Great Again.

Somehow, even if the entire agricultural economy collapses and China starts flying SU-30 fighter jets over the Texas border, Trump supporters will still deflect criticism rather than accept responsibility for their error in judgment.