Tariff: White House says Trump tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China will come Saturday. No word on exemptions
Share and Follow

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will put in place 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on goods from China effective on Saturday, the White House said, but it provided no word on whether there would be any exemptions to the measures that could result in swift price increases to U.S. consumers.

Trump had been threatening the tariffs to ensure greater cooperation from the countries on stopping illegal immigration and the smuggling of chemicals used for fentanyl, but he has also pledged to use tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing and raise revenues for the federal government.

“Starting tomorrow, those tariffs will be in place,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “These are promises made and promises kept by the president.”

MORE | These prices could climb within days if Trump slaps tariffs on Canada and Mexico

A customer shops at a grocery store in Wheeling, Ill., Dec. 11, 2024.

A customer shops at a grocery store in Wheeling, Ill., Dec. 11, 2024.

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File

The tariffs carry both political and economic risks for Trump, who is just two weeks into his second term. Many voters backed the Republican on the promise that he could tamp down inflation, but the possibility of tariffs could trigger higher prices and potentially disrupt the energy, auto, lumber and agricultural sectors.

Trump had said he was weighing issuing an exemption for Canadian and Mexican oil imports, but Leavitt said she had no information to share on the president’s decision on any potential carveouts.

The United States imported almost 4.6 million barrels of oil daily from Canada in October and 563,000 barrels from Mexico, according to the Energy Information Administration. U.S. daily production during that month averaged nearly 13.5 million barrels a day.

Trump has previously stated a 10% tariff on Chinese imports would be on top of other import taxes charged on products from the country.

Shortly after Leavitt spoke, the S&P 500 stock index sold off and largely erased its gains on the day.

Both Canada and Mexico have said they’ve prepared the option of retaliatory tariffs to be used if necessary, which in turn could trigger a wider trade conflict that economic analyses say could hurt growth and further accelerate inflation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that Canada is ready is a respond if Trump goes ahead with the tariffs, but he did not give details.

“We’re ready with a response, a purposeful, forceful but reasonable, immediate response,” he said. “It’s not what we want, but if he moves forward, we will also act.”

Trudeau said tariffs would have “disastrous consequences” for the U.S, putting American jobs at risk and causing prices to rise. Trudeau reiterated that less than 1% of the fentanyl and illegal crossings into the U.S. come from Canada.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that Mexico has maintained a dialogue with Trump’s team since before he returned to the White House, but she emphasized that Mexico has a “Plan A, Plan B, Plan C for what the United States government decides.”

“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 and a dialogue between equals, as we have always said, without subordination,” Sheinbaum said.

A study this month by Warwick McKibbin and Marcus Noland of the Peterson Institute for International Economics concluded that the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on China “would damage all the economies involved, including the US.”

“For Mexico,” the study said, “a 25% tariff would be catastrophic. Moreover, the economic decline caused by the tariff could increase the incentives for Mexican immigrants to cross the border illegally into the US – directly contradicting another Trump administration priority.”

___

AP writers Paul Wiseman in Washington, Jim Morris in Vancouver, Canada, and Christopher Sherman in Mexico City contributed.

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: Australia pays price for coddling extremists

Australia Faces Consequences for Leniency Towards Extremist Groups: Fox News Highlights Antisemitism

The “Antisemitism Exposed” newsletter from Fox News covers the alarming rise of…
Terrifying maps show exactly who is at risk of new 'super flu' in US

Detailed Maps Reveal Populations at Risk from Emerging ‘Super Flu’ in the United States

The holiday season often brings about travel and the joy of reuniting…
FILE - Former driver Greg Biffle waves to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Aug. 31, 2025, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley, File)

Federal Investigators Launch Probe into North Carolina Plane Crash Tragedy That Claimed 7 Lives

STATESVILLE, N.C. — On Friday, federal investigators will delve into the remnants…
TikTok signs deal to sell US unit to American investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake

TikTok Finalizes Agreement to Transfer US Operations to American Investors, Featuring Oracle and Silver Lake

TikTok has reached an agreement to transfer its U.S. operations to three…
Australia anti-terror police detain 7 men as country lays youngest Bondi Beach victim to rest

Australia’s Anti-Terror Raid: 7 Detained Amid Emotional Farewell to Bondi Beach’s Youngest Victim

In a series of anti-terror operations on Thursday, Australian police apprehended seven…
In recorded message, Rob Reiner urges resiliency for Holocaust survivors at Hanukkah event

Rob Reiner Advocates for Holocaust Survivors’ Resilience in Hanukkah Event Address

JERUSALEM (AP) — In a poignant video message recorded just weeks before…
'Old age' doesn't kill us... scientists reveal true causes of death

Scientists Uncover the Real Reasons Behind Our Mortality

Researchers have concluded that even the oldest among us do not succumb…
Road rage shooting in Clay County leaves 18-year-old injured; man arrested

18-Year-Old Injured in Clay County Road Rage Incident; Suspect Apprehended

In a shocking turn of events in Clay County, Florida, a 62-year-old…