Trump's Tariffs Got a Response
London, 4 March, 2025
Tuesday marked the beginning of US President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which stoked concerns about a potential global trade war escalation.
On Tuesday, he also raised the 10% tariffs that had previously been applied to Chinese goods to 20%. In retaliation, the three nations imposed additional tariffs on American imports. The tariffs are crucial for "safeguarding the nation" against the flow of illegal pharmaceuticals like fentanyl, according to the White House.
"While President Trump gave both Canada and Mexico ample opportunity to curb the dangerous cartel activity and influx of lethal drugs flowing into our country, they have failed to adequately address the situation," stated the statement.
In response to US President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the move "a very dumb thing to do."
"Canada will be implementing 25% tariffs against $155 billion worth of American goods, starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion of American products in 21 days," he stated at an Ottawa news conference.
Trudeau emphasised that even though "there are no winners in a trade war," Canadian tariffs on American goods "will remain in place until the US tariffs are withdrawn, and not a moment sooner."
Trump's 25% tariffs on Mexican exports will be met with retaliatory tariffs from Mexico, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday. She announced retribution by enacting taxes on US imports, while denouncing the tariffs on Mexican exports and allegations that her government had connections to drug trafficking groups.
We have stated this in several ways: cooperation and coordination, yes; subordination and interventionism, no. However, there is no motive, rationale, or rationale behind this decision that will impact our peoples and nations. Mexico deserves respect. At a press conference on Tuesday, she declared, "We are equal nations."
Sheinbaum said her administration will respond to Trump's tariffs with its own policies, which will be revealed on Sunday.
"I want to make it clear today that we will always seek a negotiated solution as we have proposed within the framework of respect for our sovereignty, but the unilateral decision affects the United States national and foreign companies that operate in our country and affect our people, so we have decided to respond with measures that will be announced in public next Sunday," Sheinbaum said.
China has declared that it will apply further duties on several US food products in a tit-for-tat measure, according to official media.
As of March 10, imports of chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton will be subject to a 15% duty, while sorghum, soybeans, cattle, pork, aquatic goods, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products will be subject to a 10% levy.
In retaliation, China also placed American corporations on "blacklists" of foreign commerce, which prohibit them entirely or in part from performing import and export operations involving China as well as from making new investments. Ten US-based businesses have been added to Beijing's list as unreliable entities, and fifteen have been put to its export control list. (Research and edit by The Decision Maker - International Relations editors)