The leaders of Canada and Mexico agreed to terms with President Donald Trump regarding border security on Monday.
To combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking, Trump issued an executive order Saturday imposing a 25% tariff on imports from both countries. The tariffs were to remain in effect until the end of the crisis.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was quick to agree to Trump’s terms, sending 10,000 border patrol agents to stop the flow of illegal immigration. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also agreed to terms later the same day.
“I just had a good call with President Trump,” Trudeau said in a Monday post on X. “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 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.”
Trudeau said he would employ a “fentanyl czar” to stop the flow of the harmful drug across the border.
As a result of the agreements, Trump delayed the implementation of the tariffs by 30 days in both countries, pending final agreements on the matter.
“I am very pleased with this initial outcome,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “The Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured.”
Both leaders caved one week after Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocked U.S. aircraft carrying deported illegal immigrants from landing.
Petro initially refused to take the migrants, claiming that the United States was not treating them with dignity and respect.
Trump immediately promised a 25% tariff on Colombian goods, which would be raised to 50% the following week. Trump also threatened a travel ban on Colombian nationals and suspension of visas for Colombian government officials.
After initially promising to retaliate with tariffs of his own, Petro stepped back and agreed to take deported illegal immigrants, even offering his presidential plane to help with deportations.
The events of the past week showed that Trump’s tariff policies have benefits in addition to generating government revenue.
According to the World Bank, the U.S. is the biggest trade partner in exports from Canada, Colombia, and Mexico. With the U.S. a large part of their economies, a loss of business would be more costly to the countries than sending troops to defend the border.
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Trump has shown that for some countries, the mere idea of tariffs is enough to make them reconsider their immigration policies.
Some politicians may doubt the efficacy of tariffs, but Trump has shown that, at least for immigration, it is far more effective than any policy the previous administration attempted.