Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump visited Mexico yesterday and met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.  In a press briefing after the meeting, Trump spoke about immigration and trade in a much more civil tone than he typically uses on the campaign trail.

Trump’s remarks about trade and NAFTA were especially interesting.

NAFTA is a 22-year old agreement that must be updated to reflect the realities of today.  There are many improvements that could be made that would make both Mexico and the United States stronger and keep industry in our hemisphere.  We have tremendous competition from China and from all over the world.  Keep it in our hemisphere.  … Improving pay standards and working conditions will create better results for all and for all workers in particular.  There is a lot of value that could be created for both countries by working beautifully together.  And that, I am sure, will happen.

Keep manufacturing wealth in our hemisphere. When jobs leave Mexico, the US or Central America, and go overseas, it increases poverty and pressure on social services as well as pressures on cross border migration.

After claiming repeatedly that increased trade with Mexico “destroyed” the American economy, this is a whopper of a change in rhetoric.

Read the full article at the Cato Institute: Mr. Trump Goes to Mexico, Promotes Big Tent Mercantilism