Trump steps up attacks on Mexico, tariff threat called 'deadly serious'

Donald Trump stepped up his attacks on Mexico over immigration Sunday as a top aide warned that the US president is "deadly serious" about slapping tariffs on imports from the southern neighbour.

The attacks came despite efforts at conciliation by Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who said Saturday that US officials were willing to "reach agreements and compromises."

"People have been saying for years that we should talk to Mexico. The problem is that Mexico is an 'abuser' of the United States, taking but never giving," Trump said in a series of tweets Sunday.

Unless Mexico stops the "invasion," he warned, he would use tariffs to bring back "companies and jobs that have been foolishly allowed to move South of the Border."

Trump's surprise threat Thursday to slap tariffs on all Mexico imports, beginning at five per cent on June 10 and rising to as high as 25 per cent, shocked Republican allies in Congress.

It also rattled world markets, already shaky over trade war ...