Written By Lisa Murimi
President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose steep tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China immediately upon taking office, aiming to pressure the nations to address illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the U.S.
Trump revealed he would sign an executive order on January 20 imposing a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada.
Additionally, a 10% tariff on Chinese imports would remain until Beijing halts the smuggling of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to nearly 75,000 U.S. deaths last year.
“Both Mexico and Canada can solve this problem easily,” Trump declared on Truth Social. “It is time for them to pay a very big price!”
The measures could escalate tensions with America’s largest trading partners, potentially disrupting global supply chains.
Critics warn the tariffs violate the USMCA trade agreement, signed during Trump’s first term, which ensures largely duty-free trade between the three countries.
China rejected Trump’s claims, with a spokesperson calling accusations of fentanyl smuggling “counter to facts.”
Experts, including economist Stephen Roach, note that while Trump views tariffs as economic leverage, such moves often burden U.S. consumers.
This bold tariff strategy revives debates over Trump’s economic policies, as he vows to prioritize U.S. interests in global trade relations.
