Trump begins sweeping tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China – Washington Examiner
President Donald Trump recently signed three executive orders imposing extensive tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China, signaling the onset of a possible trade war with these key trading partners. The tariffs include a 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico, a 10% tariff on Canadian energy resources, and a 10% tariff on Chinese imports.
These tariffs are expected to raise grocery prices in the U.S., contradicting Trump’s earlier promise to reduce costs. The administration justifies these measures by citing concerns over illegal drug influx and immigration from these countries, defining the situation as a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Moreover, the White House has indicated that these tariffs will remain in place until the metrics regarding opioid-related deaths stemming from drug imports improve. The U.S. anticipates potential retaliatory tariffs from Canada, Mexico, and China, but administration officials assert that any retaliation could lead to even higher tariffs on those nations.
Trump begins sweeping tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China
President Donald Trump signed three executive orders implementing wide-ranging tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China on Saturday, marking the beginning of a potential trade war with the nation’s top commercial partners.
Canadian and Mexican goods exported to the United States will face a 25% tariff, while Canadian energy resources will face a 10% tariff, and China will face a 10% tariff, according to White House officials.
The tariffs are in addition to other tariffs and there are no exclusions.
The two North American allies are critical suppliers of agricultural goods to the U.S. The tariffs could increase grocery prices for Americans, a stark contrast from Trump’s campaign promise to bring down high costs.
The president blamed the influx of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants entering the nation illegally across the northern and southern borders as reasons for the tariffs.
A White House fact sheet claims this “constitutes a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).”
Officials said several issues will need to be addressed before the tariffs are lifted from the three nations.
“The bottom line is, the best metric will be Americans stop dying from Made in China, distributed by Mexico and Canada, fentanyl,” a White House official said. “And we’ll track those metrics very carefully. We’ll be able to see how much is being recovered at the border.”
Officials also said this represents a border security issue, a key topic that Trump has handled swiftly after being sworn in as president. Through executive order Trump previously declared the southern border a national emergency.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also previewed the tariffs during her second briefing on Friday, where she blamed “the illegal fentanyl that they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country, which has killed tens of millions of Americans.”
Canada, Mexico, and China are likely to hit back with their own retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. but White House officials deflected the potential consequences.
“Importantly, there is a retaliation clause so that if any country chooses to retaliate in any way, the signal will be to take further action with respect to likely increased tariffs,” a U.S. official said.
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