Democrats started Monday armed with a strategy that Trump’s planned tariffs on Mexico and Canada would jack up the price of guacamole and beer in time for the Super Bowl this Sunday, dubbing the tariffs “Trump’s Super Bowl tax.”

But just as soon as Democrats found their footing, Trump announced a deal with Mexico and then Canada to back away from the planned 25% tariffs that would have kicked in at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Trump said he had a “friendly” conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and attributed the delay to her promise to send troops “specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants” into the country, according to a post on social media. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump also agreed to a 30-day pause to implementing a “$1.3 billion border plan” including appointing a “fentanyl czar.”

I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly…

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 3, 2025

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said tariffs on international goods would hurt working families and small businesses even after the White House said it would delay tariffs on Mexico and Canada for at least a month.

“Luckily for the American people, Trump has backed off his tariffs,” Schumer said on a press call on Monday afternoon. “But, make no mistake about it, Trump’s trade threats aren’t going away and they’d be a disaster for American families.”

Meanwhile, the White House and GOP allies celebrated the delay on Canadian and Mexican tariffs as a triumph of Trump’s negotiating skills, continuing a pattern from last week when a tariff threat on Colombia also produced concessions.

“The Art of the Deal is back,” said Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX). “This is how world leaders solve problems.”

Trump celebrated the Mexico and Canadian announcements as a victory for “FAIRNESS FOR ALL!”

Democrats said Trump deserves no credit for pausing a trade war that should have never happened.

“President Trump is dangling the Arizona economy off a cliff just so he can take credit for something Canada was already doing and something Mexico has done in the past,” said Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ). “He’s backing down for now, but as long as President Trump’s tariffs hang over our economy, it’s going to hurt Arizona businesses and workers and make families pay more at the grocery store and the gas pump.”

Trump relied on an emergency declaration to announce 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada and 10% on all imports from China, citing fentanyl and border concerns. Trump said Sunday on social media that Americans could feel “some pain” from the emerging trade war, but “it will all be worth the price that must be paid.”

Schumer pointed to an estimate from the nonpartisan Budget Lab at Yale University, which found the tariffs would cost the average American household as much as $1,200 each year. 

Earlier Monday, Democrats made the point tariffs would increase the price of Super Bowl party staples this Sunday.

The Department of Agriculture reports about 90% of all avocados eaten in the U.S. come from Mexico, which totals $2.7 billion in imports during 2024. Trade numbers show Mexico accounted for 91% of total U.S. fresh tomato imports in 2023. The country also accounts for 77% of total U.S. fresh vegetable imports in the year 2020, according to trade data.

“If these tariffs go through, they’ll be felt everywhere, from your grocery store to the gas pump to local businesses, even your upcoming Super Bowl party, because, of course, beer and guacamole are two of the biggest things consumed at the Super Bowl party, and they come from Mexico,” Schumer said late on Monday afternoon.

Democrats stressed that the White House should be solely focusing on adversaries like China instead of attacking other allies.

“Instead of trying to target China and bad actors specifically, Trump is … maximizing the harm that regular Americans are going to suffer because he has no plan or strategy,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). 

Klobuchar pointed to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who aired his concerns about Trump’s trade war on CBS’s 60 Minutes over the weekend, claiming, “It will drive the cost of everything up.”

“We don’t always quote Sen. McConnell on a Democratic call, but I will. He said it will be paid for by American consumers. Slapping these taxes on families while planning more massive tax cuts for billionaires and corporations is not how you strengthen our economy,” Klobuchar added.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Monday that Trump and the GOP are not living up to the campaign promise of lowering costs.

“They promised to lower the high cost of living, but have done nothing to lower costs in the United States of America. Nothing,” Jeffries said, adding that “life is already too expensive in the United States of America.”