US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China through executive orders on his first day in office. He cited their involvement in the flow of fentanyl and migrants into the United States as the reason for the move.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump stated that he would implement a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada, which would remain in effect until the flow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants into the US stops. He called the situation an “invasion” and stated that both Mexico and Canada have the power to solve the issue.
Trump also threatened to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, citing the ongoing fentanyl crisis. He expressed frustration that China had not followed through on its promise to enforce severe penalties for drug dealers. Trump claimed that fentanyl is entering the US primarily through Mexico and emphasized the need for action from China, Mexico, and Canada.
Canada, Mexico, and China are the US’s top three trading partners, accounting for a combined total of $831.2 billion in trade. Trump had previously renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico during his first term and launched a trade war with China, with many tariffs remaining in place under President Joe Biden.
