Canada, China, and Mexico announced retaliatory measures to counter President Donald Trump’s tariffs, one day after the president said he would impose tariffs in an effort to pressure the three countries to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Trump will impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, and a 10 percent tariff on imports from China, starting Tuesday. Canada, which exports nearly 75 percent of its goods and services to America, is poised to respond with tariffs of its own, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday.
Trudeau threatened to levy a 25 percent tariff against more than $100 billion of U.S. goods, including “immediate tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods as of Tuesday.” Remaining tariffs will be imposed in the next three weeks “to allow Canadian companies and supply chains to seek to find alternatives.”
“Like the American tariffs, our response will also be far reaching and include everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes,” Trudeau said. “It’ll include major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics, along with much, much more.”
“If President Trump wants to usher in a new ‘golden age’ for the United States, the better path is to partner with Canada, not to punish us,” he added.
Trump’s tariffs will limit tariffs on Canadian energy products to 10 percent.
The sweeping actions will raise prices for American consumers and will persist “until the crisis is alleviated,” the White House said. Mexico, Canada, and China produced more than 40 percent of U.S. imports last year.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also announced on Saturday that Mexico would retaliate with “tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico’s interests,” but did not expand on the measures.
“We categorically reject the White House’s slander of the Government of Mexico alleging alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention to interfere in our territory,” she said. “Therefore, if the United States wants to combat the criminal groups that traffic drugs and generate violence, we must work together in a comprehensive manner, but always under the principles of shared responsibility, mutual trust, collaboration and above all, respect for sovereignty, which is non-negotiable. Coordination, yes; subordination, no.”
Trump imposed tariffs to counter the “major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl,” he said. Tariffs could be removed if the fentanyl crisis lessens and fewer illegal drugs are captured at the border.
China, which traffics fentanyl and precursor chemicals largely through Mexico into the U.S., said that it would file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization and inflict “necessary countermeasures.”
“China makes the fentanyl, gives it to Mexico, puts it through Canada, puts it through different places, mostly Mexico, but also a lot through Canada,” Trump said over the weekend. “And so all three haven’t treated us very well.”