Following agreements from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to station soldiers along their American-mexico borders, former president Donald Trump has agreed to delay the implementation of major tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month.
In addition to wider efforts to combat illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl into the United States, both leaders pledged to send 10,000 soldiers each to their respective territories.
According to National Review , the deal with Mexico was finalized on Monday morning, two days after Trump ratified executive orders imposing a 25 % tariff on imported goods from China and Mexico, as well as a 10 % tariff on goods from China. Due to this partnership, Sheinbaum and Trudeau had expressed their intention to fight against the U. S. taxes.
Trump made the announcement that negotiations may be held for a month while the taxes on Mexico were still in effect at midnight on Tuesday.
Trump posted on Truth Social,” We have agreed to suspend the planned tariffs for a month while discussions take place, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, along with senior Mexican officials.” I look forward to working with President Sheinbaum to reach a just arrangement among our countries.
Trump and Trudeau came to terms with a similar agreement on Monday evening when Canada pledged to increase safety along the U.S.-Canada borders in an effort to stop fentanyl smuggling. In exchange, the U. S. agreed to postpone tariffs on American goods for at least a quarter.
” President Trump and I had a successful dialogue. Canada is moving ahead with our$ 1.3 billion border surveillance initiative—enhancing patrols with fresh helicopters, advanced engineering, and officers, strengthening coordination with our British rivals, and allocating more resources to combat morphine smuggling. Almost 10, 000 workers will be deployed to guard the border”, Trudeau shared on X.
He also made more recommendations, including the creation of a fentanyl czar, expanding intelligence efforts against fentanyl trafficking, and creating a shared strike force with the United States to fight organized crime.
Later that evening, Trump praised the contract in a speech on Truth Social.
He stated that Canada has committed to securing our northern frontier and addressing the devastating flood of methadone that has been causing American life and destroying populations across our country. ” As President, my concern is the protection of all Americans, and this arrangement is a major step forward. The development of an economical deal with Canada will be evaluated for 30 days after the taxes were announced on Saturday. FAIRNESS FOR ALL”!
Prior to this agreement, Trudeau had declared on Saturday night that Canada would impose 25 percent tariffs on over$ 100 billion worth of U. S. goods, with immediate tariffs affecting approximately$ 30 billion in products, in response to Trump’s proposed trade measures. Before Sheinbaum agreed to work with the United States on border security, Mexico announced its intention to create both price and non-tariff countermeasures.
Trump cited the taxes as a means of urging Mexico, Canada, and China to cooperate in halting fentanyl smuggling and illegal immigration into the United States.
In the fiscal year 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 21, 148 weight of morphine at the southern border, while only 43 pounds were sequestered at the northern frontier. China continues to be the primary source of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals, which are essentially trafficked through Mexico into the U.S.
Trump argued in a media briefing in the Oval Office on Friday that the taxes were certainly intended as a bargaining tool and that no one could stop them from being imposed. Also, he signaled plans to expand tariffs to goods from the European Union, silicon chips, pharmaceuticals, material, aluminum, metal, oil, and gasoline.
Over the weekend, as Trump prepared to impose the levies, a walk he had been threatening since winning the 2024 election, people worry increased over rising prices for Americans and companies. The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board criticized the choice, calling it portion of” the dumbest business war in history”.
Instead of portraying a business war as a necessary stage in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal immigration, administration officials retaliated.
” This isn’t about a’ business conflict’ with Canada, Mexico, or China—this is about stopping fentanyl”, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a Monday morning meeting on Fox News. Our nation is experiencing a previously unanticipated security crisis.