President-elect Donald Trump stated on Monday that he plans to enact an executive order imposing a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, aiming to reduce the amount of drugs and migrants crossing the U.S. border.
He also highlighted that an extra ten percent tariff would be levied on China, in addition to any existing tariffs.
“I have engaged in numerous discussions with China regarding the substantial quantities of drugs, particularly Fentanyl, being imported into the United States – yet to no success…,” he posted on Truth Social. ”Until they cease these activities, we will implement an additional 10% Tariff on all their numerous products entering the United States of America.”
Despite warnings from many economists about potential price rises for American consumers, Trump, who ran on a platform of strict tariffs, would breach his own 2020 trade agreement should he proceed with this plan.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which took over from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), guarantees that goods traded among these nations are exempt from tariffs.
“The USMCA is the largest, most significant, modern, and balanced trade agreement in history. All our countries will gain immensely,” Trump remarked in January 2020.
In a conversation with Laura Ingraham on Fox News Monday evening, Trump’s third child and Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization, Eric Trump, supported his father’s recent decision.
“If you want drugs to flow through our southern border, we will impose tariffs. If you permit them to come through Canada, we will impose tariffs. China, if you allow this to be sold in our nation…we will add another ten percent,” he said, echoing his father’s message.
“We will impose significant costs on your countries, your economies, and your businesses—billions, potentially hundreds of billions of dollars,” he asserted. “If you believe you can poison Americans, it will not occur. You will not ruin our youth, our society, or our families.”
Eric mentioned that he “literally cheered out loud” when first learning of his father’s plans via Truth Social.
