President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada will go into effect on March 4, following a one-month delay.
Additionally, China will face an extra 10% tariff on the same date.
The tariffs on Mexico and Canada were initially paused on Feb. 3, but Trump clarified in a Truth Social post that they would proceed as scheduled.
He cited concerns over illicit drug trafficking from both countries, arguing that despite efforts to tighten border security, the problem remains unresolved.
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled,” Trump wrote.
He also confirmed that China, which already faces 10% US tariffs, will be subject to an additional 10% tariff on that date.
Trump further emphasized that “The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect,” without providing additional details.
Trump’s mixed signals on Wednesday
This comes after the Trump on Wednesday gave mixed signals regarding his plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
During a Cabinet meeting, when the president was asked whether the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico would take effect on March 4, Trump initially stated, “I’m not stopping the tariffs,” while criticising what he described as years of unfair treatment by the two countries.
However, he later mentioned that the tariffs would instead be implemented on April 2.
It was unclear whether he was granting additional time to Canada and Mexico or confusing these tariffs with a separate initiative being developed by the Commerce Department and US Trade Representative, which would impose reciprocal tariffs on various nations.
Trump first announced the tariffs earlier this month but agreed to a one-month delay after Canadian and Mexican leaders committed to stricter border control measures. That delay is set to expire next week.
A White House official clarified later on Wednesday that the deadline for the Canada and Mexico tariffs remains March 4, and Trump has not yet decided whether to extend it further.
Trump’s EU tariff threat
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump also warned of a 25% tariff on imports from the European Union, stating that the bloc “was formed to screw the United States.”
His comments came during his first cabinet meeting of his second term, where he was joined by billionaire Elon Musk, whom Trump has tasked with cutting government spending.
When asked about his tariff strategy, Trump said, “We have made a decision and we’ll be announcing it very soon,” adding that the tariffs would apply broadly to cars and other goods.
The European Commission responded by signaling potential retaliatory measures, warning that the EU would “react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade.”
The latest tariff threats have heightened concerns about a potential transatlantic trade conflict, which could impact the economies of both the US and Europe, while further straining diplomatic relations between Western allies.
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