US President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on all goods imported from America’s three largest trading partners, China, Mexico, and Canada.
In three executive orders, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and most Canadian imports and 10% on goods from China, starting on Tuesday.
Trump said the US would impose tariffs beginning on Tuesday of 25% on Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% tax on China. Canadian energy faces a lower 10% tariff.
He had threatened to impose the import taxes if the three countries did not address his concerns about illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
He vowed to keep the duties in place until what he described as a national emergency over fentanyl, a deadly opioid, and illegal immigration to the US ended. The White House provided no other parameters for determining what might satisfy Trump’s demands.
Trump has indicated he is ready to escalate the duties if the countries retaliate.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “This was done through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl.”
On Friday, Trump acknowledged there could be “some temporary, short-term disruption” from the tariffs.
“Today’s tariff announcement is necessary to hold China, Mexico, and Canada accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the United States,” the White House said in a statement on X on Saturday.
The White House, in its announcement, accused Mexico’s government of having “an intolerable alliance” with Mexican drug trafficking organizations.
The White House, explaining on Saturday why it was targeting its top trading partners, said Mexican cartels were responsible for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs.
It said tariffs on Canada would remain until it “co-operates with the US against drug traffickers and on border security”.
Lastly, it said “China plays the central role in the fentanyl crisis” with exports of the lethal synthetic painkiller.
