US President Donald Trump will deliver on his often repeated trade threats on Saturday, imposing a 25 per cent tariff on goods entering the US from Canada and Mexico, alongside a 10 per cent tariff on imports from China, effective on Saturday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday.
Advertisement
The tariffs, looming as a possibility since Trump won election in November, are part of his broader strategy to force these major American trading partners to take more decisive action on the fentanyl crisis and escalating migration at the US borders.
“The president will be implementing tomorrow a 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico, 25 per cent tariffs on Canada, and a 10 per cent tariff on China for the illegal fentanyl that they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country, which has killed tens of millions of Americans,” Leavitt told reporters at a White House press briefing.
She described the tariffs as necessary, citing a failure by the three countries to adequately help the US address problems that have been long-running domestic political issues.
“Both Canada and Mexico have allowed an unprecedented invasion of illegal fentanyl that is killing American citizens, and also illegal immigrants, into our country,” Leavitt added.
Advertisement
The tariffs will stay in place until significant progress was made in halting the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the US, according to the White House.