President Donald Trump reiterated his stance that the proposed 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico will go into effect after 11:59 p.m. Monday with no more room for negotiation before the deadline.
“Reciprocal tariffs start on April 2 … but very importantly, tomorrow tariffs 25% on Canada and 25% on Mexico, and that will start so they’re going to have to have a tariff,” Trump told reporters Monday afternoon after announcing a $100 billion investment from a Taiwanese chipmaker. “So what they have to do is build their car plants, frankly, and other things in the United States, in which case they have no tariffs.”
Trump also stated that an additional 10% flat tariff on Chinese goods will also go into effect, adding to a previous 10% tariff against China.
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The president has long cited border security and the influx of fentanyl across the nation’s borders as the top reasons for the tariffs against the two North American neighbors. But he also encouraged Canada and Mexico to consider building their factories in the United States to avoid the 25% tariffs.
“And I would just say this to people in Canada or Mexico, if they’re going to build car plants, the people that are doing them are much better off building here because we have the market, we’re the market where they sell the most,” Trump said.
Trump was asked if the two nations could negotiate a deal to stave off the tariffs from going into effect but Trump claimed the time for negotiations was over.
“No room left for Mexico or for Canada,” Trump said. “No, the tariffs, you know, they’re all set. They go into effect tomorrow.”
A mere two hours before his comments, Trump took to social media to tease separate tariffs will begin April 2 on reciprocal tariffs to match those of other nations beyond China, Mexico, and Canada.
During the remarks at the White House, the president also spoke about the stunning disagreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday that ended without the two nations signing a bilateral U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal.
Trump at first teased that he would update the nation about the minerals deal during his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening before saying he didn’t think the deal was done.
“No, I don’t think so,” Trump said. “Look it’s a great deal for us because, you know, Biden very, very foolishly, stupidly, frankly, gave $300 billion, and $350 billion more accurately, to a country to fight and to try and do things.”
Trump also reiterated Vice President JD Vance’s criticism that Zelensky was not grateful enough for the U.S. support in its battle against Russia.
“Well, I just think he should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin,” Trump said about restarting negotiations. “We’ve given them much more than Europe, and Europe should have given more than us.”
The president did not directly answer the question about ending military aid to Ukraine but he did claim that he wanted to see the war end.
“I don’t want to see this go on for years and years now. President Zelensky supposedly made a statement today in [the Associated Press] — I’m not a big fan of AP — so maybe it was an incorrect statement, but he said he thinks the war is going to go on for a long time,” Trump said. “And he better not be right about that.”
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Peace negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine are unclear after the Friday spat. But Trump subtly claimed that Zelensky could be replaced if a deal is not made.
“Now, maybe somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, and if somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, I think that person won’t be around very long,” Trump said. “That person will not be listened to very long, because I believe that Russia wants to make a deal. I believe certainly the people of Ukraine want to make a deal. They’ve suffered more than anybody else.”