U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke on Monday morning and forged a temporary agreement to delay threatened tariffs between the countries one month, both leaders said. President Trump also posted on Truth Social on Monday that he has spoken with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and will do so again later today.
According to Mexican President Sheinbaum, she agreed to post an additional 10,000 national guard on her country’s side of the U.S.-Mexican border to help combat the flow of migrants and drugs.
The status of when substantial tariffs might be levied against Canada remains unclear.
Over the past 72 hours, rhetoric between the leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico has been pitched over the prospect of steep tariffs initiated by President Trump late last week. If implemented, the penalties will impact hundreds of billions of dollars of trade between the countries and could lead to inflationary pressures, economic experts have warned.
U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico responded on Saturday to Trump’s acting to impose tariffs on imports from both countries by announcing they too would apply 25 percent levies on American goods in direct response to 25 percent tariffs imposed by Washington.
Trump also ordered a 10 percent tariff on Chinese trade in a set of measures designed to force the three countries to increase their efforts to halt the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigration across U.S. borders, he said in issuing an executive order under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act earlier on Saturday.
“We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as president to to ensure the safety of all,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding “I made a promise on my campaign to stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs from pouring across our borders, and Americans overwhelming voted in favor of it,” he explained.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113931044424714413
On energy imports from Canada, the tariff is set lower at 10 percent. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Canada is Maine dominant supplier of petroleum products and other energy sources.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum both initially responded swiftly on Saturday, announcing reciprocal tariffs.
“The actions taken by the Trump White House today split us apart rather than bring us closer together,” Prime Minister Trudeau said, adding that less than one percent of fentanyl or illegal aliens entering the U.S. are coming from Canada.
Canada would stagger its response, Trudeau said, and its measures would impact $30 billion worth of U.S. imports beginning this week and an additional $125 billion in 21 days time. According to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. exports to Canada amounted to $365.5 billion in 2022.
Mexico’s President Sheinbaum first responded by saying she was enacting her country’s “Plan B,” which includes counter-tariffs and other measures. But on Monday morning, Sheinbaum said she had spoken with Trump, who said their recent conversation was “friendly.”
Trump also posted on Truth Social Monday morning that he had just spoken with Canada’s Trudeau and would do so again at 3 p.m. today.
China was less specific in its immediate response, though its government also said it would take countermeasures if necessary.
“China calls on the U.S. to correct its mistakes, work toward mutual understanding, engage in candid dialogue, strengthen cooperation, and manage differences on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Saturday.
On Sunday, Trump responded to criticism of his tariff initiative on Truth Social by posting “Will there be some pain? Yes maybe (and maybe not!), but we will make America great again and it will all be worth the price that must be paid.”
Prior to Saturday’s actions, The Wall Street Journal published an editorial on Friday calling what is now ensuing “The Dumbest Trade War in History.” Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) also piled on Friday evening with a statement that she is “deeply concerned that President Trump’s tariffs — especially those on Canada — will increase prices on Maine people at a time when they can least afford it.”
U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) took a neutral and constructive approach in her response on Friday evening:
“I am working with the Trump Administration to help its officials better understand the potential ramifications of certain tariffs on Maine and to find out more about their implementation, scope, duration and other important information,” Senator Collins posted on X.
The tariffs Trump announced on Saturday were scheduled to go into effect on Tuesday, February 4. Based on continuing talks between Trump and the leaders of the impacted countries, updates will follow.
NAFTA killed the Maine Lumber Business . Canada steals our lobsters . Canada gives illegals free entry and passage in order for them to sneak across our Northern Border .
Canada has decent beer . There is nothing else I need that comes from Canada .
Screw Justin Trudeau . He’s gone anyway.
Could somebody please tell the democrats to STFU. We already knew they were stupid, they don’t need to keep proving it. I’m talking to you pinhead pingree. Remember when shummer said the wall was too expensive then shelled out 1000x the cost hiding illegals? (a lot I’m sure ended up in his pocket) It’s the same for this. Pay 20% more for tequila, save millions and millions not supporting illegal’s and services for addicts. The dims are un-teachable morons that love suffering. The party should be considered a terrorist group and treated as such.
Homo Trudeau is caving in. Canada needs us more than we need them.
NAFTA was renegotiated by President Trump in 2018 with Mexico and Canada. Trump signed the new agreement, “United States-Mexicon-Canada Agreement.” This new trade agreement revised and modernized the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with those two countries. So Trump’s to blame for the trade imbalance as he negotiated and agreed to what’s in place right now. Yesterday nothing was done about trade by Trump, absolutely nothing.
Those are the facts and please feel free to fact-check me.
Trump’s move united Canadians against us. The most dangerous drug in volume crossing from Canada into our country is maple syrup with a value of over $375,000,000 per year.