US President Trump confirms tariffs on Canada, Mexico

President Donald Trump has confirmed that tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products will be implemented as planned. Mr. Trump told reporters in the white house yesterday that on Tuesday 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico will start. President Donald Trump told reporters that there was no room left for Mexico or Canada regarding trade negotiations.

Stock markets in the U.S. fell after the announcement. The tariffs had been a possibility for months but are now officially starting today.

In addition, a 10 per cent tax on goods from China is also expected to begin soon. This means the U.S. is increasing trade costs for its three biggest trading partners.

Initially, the tariffs were supposed to take effect last month, until the US agreed to a one-month delay for Canada and



Mexico, pulling its North American neighbours back from the brink of a potentially damaging trade war. But Trump went ahead with imposing a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports in February, meaning goods from the country now face a levy of at least 20 per cent.

All three countries have already said that they will retaliate against the US in response to the tariffs, raising the prospect of a widening trade war.

Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said the tariffs are an existential threat to us with thousands of jobs in Canada at stake.

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, appeared to send a message to Trump earlier, yesterday when she said at a public event in the city of Colima that Mexico has to be respected.