President Trump declared on Thursday that tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico will come into effect next week, claiming that both countries have not done enough to combat the drug flow to the United States.
Mexico and Canada avoided the imposition of a 25% tariff earlier this month after leaders of the two countries agreed to tighten border security and crack down on fentanyl smuggling in exchange for a 30-day suspension.
In the absence of another transaction or a change of heart from the president, tariffs will take effect “as planned” on March 4th.
“Drugs are still poured into our country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday. “Most of these drugs are large in the form of fentanyl, made and supplied from China.”
“We cannot allow this tragedy to harm the United States, and therefore we cannot allow it to take effect as planned until the tariffs scheduled to come into effect on March 4th are suspended or seriously limited,” the president said.
Trump, 78, also declared that China will face another 10% tariffs on March 4 with the goal of forcing the flow of criminal cartels that use fentanyl to manufacture deadly drugs for the US market, in addition to the 10% levy he imposed on US enemies on February 4, as well as the goal of forcing the flow of precursor chemicals from China.
“The second mutual tariff date in April will remain fully in strength and effective,” the president added, referring to a memorandum he signed earlier this month, directing the Treasury to impose “fair and mutual” tariffs on all key trading partners.
“Thank you for paying attention to this issue. God blesses America!” Trump's post concluded.
The president previously agreed to delay tariffs on US neighbours after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to send 10,000 members of her country's national guard to the border, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a “$1.3 billion border plan” that includes the deployment of a new helicopter.
Trudeau also appointed “Emperor Fentanyl” and promised that “Canadian and US joint strike forces will fight organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.”
