Mexico Ready to Play the Corn Card in Trade Talks

In this article it speaks on the still high tensions between Mexico and the United States due to Trumps presidency. During and before Trumps presidency he made many remarks about cutting off ties with Mexico for he believes that they are one of the major sources of Americas problems. In the article it details how Mexico is trying to, in a way, "flex" on America by threatening to turn to places such a Brazil for business. It begins by talking about how Mexico is one of America's major export facets for things like corn. Specifically it states "From the hundreds of millions of tortillas consumed every year to the countless tons of corn-enriched feed that fattens livestock and poultry, corn is perhaps Mexico's most important agricultural commodity, one at the center of its life and culture.Now corn has taken on a new role — as a powerful lever for Mexican officials in the run-up to talks over nafta, the North American Free Trade Agreement ... Much of the corn that Mexico consumes comes from the United States, making it America’s top agricultural export to its southern neighbor." According to this, cutting off ties with Mexico would only hurt Americas economy, for America is not the only place that Mexico can do business with and get the corn that they need(as discussed in the article). The article then goes on to talk about america and mexico are extremely codependent of each other as a lot of money goes into their dealing. In the article it states "American corn shipments to Mexico totaled nearly $2.6 billion last year and are part of an elaborate agricultural trade relationship between the two nations that has helped to interlace their economies. But though the corn business is a tiny fraction of the overall $525 billion in annual trade between the two countries, it has gained outsize importance and become something of a symbol for the nations’ economic codependence." The article also goes on to give alternative arguments. Some people such as Vázquez Salido suggest that this could be good for the countries, mainly mexico, as it will make them a much more independent country. What do you guys think? Do you feel as though this could be a positive thing, as it could end up creating more jobs in Mexico(for internal production of certain crops) or that it will only serve as a detriment? Do you feel like this is the first of many instances in which Donald's mouth could possibly negatively impact the whole country's economy or that this will be a one time thing?  


Link - https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/02/world/americas/mexico-corn-nafta-trade.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fus&action=click&contentCollection=us&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=5&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0