
On Saturday, Canada and Mexico announced their own tariff measures against U.S. goods, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing trade dispute. The move came in response to new tariffs ordered by President Donald Trump, which were imposed on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. These tariffs were justified by concerns that the nations had not taken sufficient action against the human and drug trafficking issues affecting the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the need for a coordinated response with Mexico. “I think Canadians understand that we need to respond to this,” Trudeau said, signaling that while escalation is not the desired outcome, Canada is committed to defending its national interests. With Trudeau expected to step down soon as his party’s leader, the announcement carried additional political weight, setting the stage for potential shifts in regional trade policy.
LIVE: Canada’s response to U.S. tariffs | EN DIRECT : Réplique aux tarifs douaniers américains https://t.co/JQ7HfwwCCW
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 2, 2025
President Trump, speaking via his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, strongly condemned his critics and supporters alike, accusing them of being complicit in what he described as “the decades long RIPOFF OF AMERICA, both with regard to TRADE, CRIME, AND POISONOUS DRUGS that are allowed to so freely flow into AMERICA. THOSE DAYS ARE OVER!” His tariffs impose a 25% duty on imports from Canada and Mexico, with an additional 10% tariff on Canadian energy imports, and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, escalating tensions further.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also took to social media, denouncing the tariffs and asserting that Trump had falsely accused the Mexican government of connections with criminal cartels. The White House fact sheet further detailed that Chinese precursor chemicals entering Mexico have contributed to the production of dangerous drugs such as fentanyl by Mexican cartels—a situation that has already led to significant overdose deaths in the United States. The statement pointed out that “the Mexican drug trafficking organizations have an intolerable alliance with the government of Mexico,” noting that safe havens for these cartels have enabled the manufacturing and transportation of narcotics.