
President Donald Trump will officially impose tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico starting Saturday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Friday. The move, which follows through on a pledge made after his election in November, is intended to pressure these nations into stopping the flow of illegal drugs and unlawful migration into the United States.
Leavitt confirmed that Canada and Mexico would face a 25% tariff, while China would be hit with a 10% penalty. “These are promises made and promises kept by the president,” she stated. Regarding China, she justified the action by pointing to its role in supplying fentanyl, which she said “has killed tens of millions of Americans.”
The White House has not yet specified which products will be affected by the tariffs, but Leavitt assured the public that further details would be released within 24 hours. The financial markets reacted quickly to the announcement, with the Dow Jones falling 0.5% and the S&P 500 declining 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite remained in positive territory, according to CNBC.
The tariff decision has already provoked strong reactions from Canada and Mexico, with both governments warning that they are prepared to retaliate. Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the move, stating, “We’re ready with a response, a purposeful, forceful but reasonable, immediate response.” He added that while Canada does not want a trade war, it will not hesitate to act.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum echoed a similar sentiment, emphasizing that her government has multiple plans in place should Trump follow through. “Now it is very important that the Mexican people know that we are always going to defend the dignity of our people, we are always going to defend the respect of our sovereignty,” she declared.
Trump had issued repeated warnings to both Canada and Mexico that tariffs would remain in place “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” He insisted that both nations had the power to resolve these issues quickly but had failed to take necessary action. “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” Trump had stated in November.
Trudeau previously attempted to negotiate a resolution with Trump, meeting with him at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the tariff threat. According to reports, during the meeting, Trump suggested that if Canada couldn’t afford to pay the tariffs, it should consider becoming the 51st state. Weeks later, amid plummeting poll numbers, Trudeau announced his resignation.
The imposition of tariffs underscores a broader shift in U.S. trade and immigration policy.. Trump’s decision signals that economic leverage will be used to force compliance from foreign governments that fail to address issues impacting American security. With China’s involvement in fentanyl production and Canada and Mexico’s inaction on illegal border crossings, the administration has drawn a firm line: cooperation or financial consequences. As the tariffs take effect, the question remains whether these nations will take significant steps to address the concerns raised—or if a trade war is imminent