The Pima County Supervisors voted in a highly symbolic resolution to maintain the region’s cultural and economic ties to Mexico. It also voted to oppose the border adjustment tax.
The tax is an idea floated by the Republican Party that is supposed to incentivize U.S. companies to make their products here.
Supporters say it will give tax breaks to companies that ship products out of the U.S. and strips them away from companies that import them.
The Pima County board’s vote says that implementing the tax on Mexican goods will hurt the county’s relationship with Mexico.
Citing a University of Arizona study, the board contends that Mexico is Pima County's largest trading partner and maintains a $870 million trade deficit with Mexico.
The resolution said that federal actions, like the tax or a renegotiation of the NAFTA treaty, will spark retaliation by Mexico, including damage to tourism by Mexican shoppers.
The resolution met with some resistance. It passed 3 to 2.
