Trump signs executive orders imposing steep tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico
White House says move necessary to staunch flow of fentanyl and migrants to US
US President Donald Trump made good on his threat to impose 10 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports and 25 per cent on goods coming from Canada and Mexico, launching a potential trade war less than two weeks into his administration.
Trump signed three executive orders late Saturday afternoon at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, launching the salvoes. Layered on top of those already in place, the tariffs will go into effect on Tuesday.
“President Trump is taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable,” the White House said in a statement. “Chinese officials have failed to take the actions necessary to stem the flow of precursor chemicals to known criminal cartels and shut down money laundering by transnational criminal organizations.”
In announcing the unsettling moves, the White House added that the Trump administration was drawing on emergency powers to counter the influx of opioids and other drugs that “threatens the very fabric of our society”.
“This was done through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl,” Trump said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all.”
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Trump signs executive orders imposing tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico to counter drug crisis
The levy on imports of Canadian oil would be reduced to 10 per cent under the new orders, seen as part of a bid to moderate politically explosive prices at US gas pumps.
