STORY: President-elect Trump named trade lawyer Jamieson Greer as his new trade representative on Tuesday.

It comes a day after Trump threatened high tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China – as he urged them to step up efforts to curb drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, and illegal immigration.

Greer was a veteran of Trump’s first trade war against China.

At the time, he was chief of staff to former trade representative Robert Lighthizer.

His views on China also align strongly with Trump, who says there is a need to counter China’s efforts to dominate global industries.

When he testified before the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission in May, he advocated for higher tariffs and tougher export controls on sensitive U.S. technologies.

Trump’s rhetoric has led China to warn that no one can win a trade war.

It was also rebuked by Mexico.

State President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government could retaliate with its own tariffs, with serious economic consequences for both sides.

Meanwhile, Mexican border towns are already feeling the strain of Trump’s plans.

Jesus Manuel Salyandia, coordinator of the Border Business Bloc, said border towns have lost much of their competitiveness and many industries are uncertain about the future.

“We will see how things develop once the president-elect takes office on January 20th. But the messages they have been sending – saying they want to raise tariffs, calling the border conflict-ridden, talking about issues like violence and migration – they are not contributing to all the investments that could be coming.”

Others take a more nuanced view and suggest that Trump’s threats are more of a negotiating tactic.

Mario Cepeda is president of the Mexican employers’ association in the border city of Ciudad Juárez

He says Trump is “starting to negotiate better terms for his country” and looking out for “his own interests.”

Cepeda says Mexico should do the same.