US President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States (US) will impose tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China, signing an executive order targeting the three largest US trading partners.
Trump clarified that the US will impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico and XNUMX percent on China starting Tuesday.
The 25 percent tariff will apply to all Canadian goods, except for energy products, which will be subject to a XNUMX percent rate.
Both Canada and Mexico, as well as China, have indicated that they will retaliate.
Trump has previously announced that the US will impose import taxes if those countries do not take his concerns about "illegal migration and drug trafficking" seriously.
"The customs announcement is necessary to hold China, Mexico and Canada accountable for their promises to stop drugs from entering the United States," the White House said.
Trump stated on the Truth Social platform that "this was done through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, due to the great threat of illegal aliens and drugs, including fentanyl."
Announced response
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum immediately ordered countermeasures to the US decision.
"I have instructed the Minister of Economy to implement the 'Plan B' we are working on, which includes tariff and non-tariff measures to protect Mexico's interests," she wrote on the social network X.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also stressed that his country would respond.
Trudeau announced that his country would impose 4 percent import tariffs on $25 billion worth of American goods starting February 155 in response to Washington's actions.
He also noted that this would be followed by additional tariffs on $125 billion worth of American goods for 21 days, to give Canadian companies time to find alternative partners.
The Chinese government also condemned the introduction of tariffs, stressing that Beijing would challenge them before the World Trade Organization and take "countermeasures."
Trump's decree includes an option to increase it if any country imposes retaliatory measures against Washington.
Explaining the imposition of the duties, he previously stated that "Canada is responsible for large amounts of drug trafficking into the United States." He noted that the drugs "have also entered the country through Mexico, and are also produced in China."
China, Mexico and Canada together accounted for more than 40 percent of imports into the US last year.
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