Mexico: We Will Not Pay for Trump Border Wall

Local Editor

Mexico will not pay for Donald Trump's border wall, the country's president said in a message to the nation.

Enrique Pena Nieto said he "lamented" the plans for the barrier, adding that "Mexico doesn't believe in walls".

But he made no mention of cancelling or postponing a trip to Washington on 31 January to meet the new US president.
Trump signed an executive order for an "impassable physical barrier" and insisted Mexico will reimburse the US for it.

Pena Nieto told the nation in a televised address: "I've said time and again; Mexico won't pay for any wall.

"I regret and condemn the decision of the United States to continue construction of a wall that, for years, has divided us instead of uniting us."

Mexico will not pay for Donald Trump's border wall, the country's president has said in a message to the nation.

Pena Nieto, on the other hand, said his country offered "its friendship to the American people and its willingness to reach accords with their government".

Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray - in Washington to lead a delegation that has held talks at the White House - told the Televisa network the president was still weighing next Tuesday's visit but said "the meeting stands for now".

Pena Nieto met Trump - then a presidential candidate - in Mexico City in September and came under intense criticism at home and his current approval ratings are low.

Trump said in an interview with ABC News that Mexico would "absolutely, 100%" reimburse the US for his wall.

But Congress would have to approve funding for the structure, which is estimated to cost billions of dollars.

Building a 2,000 mile [3,200km] barrier along the Mexican border was one of Trump's key pledges in the election campaign.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team