Trump just dared the Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto, to cancel their scheduled meeting if Mexico was not prepared to pay for a gigantic border wall. Mexico has no interest in paying for Trump’s jewel of a campaign promise. Peña Nieto, who not surprisingly objected to being made to look like a servile lap dog, stood up to Trump and took the dare. He cancelled the meeting.

But here’s the problem. We need Mexico’s assistance in fighting both terrorism and the drug cartels. They are one of our most important trading partners. They will not, and should not, be expected to tolerate being treated as “less than.”

The big winner in a trade war with Mexico would be China, Mexico’s second leading trade partner. China has always been known as a shrewd country. So last year as Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric, China began making entreaties to Mexican leadership. They have been heavily expanding their trade reach in Latin America and increased trade with Mexico would dovetail nicely into their existing plans. Since Trump is already threatening a separate trade war with China, it kills two big orange birds with one stone.