WASHINGTON DC: U.S. President Donald Trump will enact 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on goods from China beginning Saturday, the White House said.
“Both Canada and Mexico have allowed an unprecedented invasion of illegal fentanyl that is killing American citizens, and also illegal immigrants into our country,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during her briefing Friday.
Leavitt did not say whether there would be any exemptions to the measures.
“These are promises made and promises kept by the president,” she said.
Asked by reporters Friday, Trump said there was nothing the three countries could do to reverse his decision and that the tariffs were “not a negotiating tool.”
“It’s a pure economic — we have big deficits with, as you know, with all three of them,” Trump said. “We’re not looking for a concession, and we’ll just see what happens.”
Trump said that he would tariff Canadian crude oil imports at 10% beginning Saturday. Other Canadian goods would be hit with a 25% tariff.
The president vowed to impose sweeping tariffs on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, steel and aluminum, and oil and gas.
“All forms of medicine and pharmaceuticals,” Trump said. “And we’ll be doing, very importantly, steel, and we’ll also be doing chips and things associated with chips.”
Tariffs on oil and gas will be imposed “around the 18th of February,” Trump said. He signaled that other tariffs would be imposed in the coming weeks, without providing exact dates.
Trump warned he would “absolutely” place tariffs on goods from the European Union.
“They’re treating us so badly,” he said.
Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would respond.
“We’re working hard to prevent these tariffs, but if the United States moves ahead, Canada’s ready with a forceful and immediate response,” he posted on social media.
(AP/VOA)
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