Frustrated at an unending flow of migrants across the country's southern border, U.S. President Donald Trump overruled the advice of his two top trade advisers in abruptly imposing tariffs on Mexico, sources familiar with the situation said on Friday.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were both "blindsided" when Trump made the decision, said one of the sources.
Lighthizer had expressed fears that slapping the tariffs on Mexico could complicate efforts to get Congress to approve a recently agreed upon trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada, said the sources, who asked not to be identified.