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PRESIDENT Donald Trump has restarted his trade war with Mexico and Canada by revealing the tariffs starting next week.
Trump said his previously planned tariffs on Mexico and Canada will kick off on March 4 – and he also is charging China an extra 10% tariff, he announced on Thursday.
The president revealed his renewed battle with Mexico and Canada in a post on Truth Social after he previously paused the trade war.
He said drugs like fentanyl are being made in China and pouring into America from Mexico and Canada, leading him to enforce the trade rules to stop the “scourge” on the country.
“Therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled,” Trump wrote.
Trump signed off on sweeping 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports earlier this month.
On February 3, he delayed the massive move for a month after both countries made moves to strengthen their US border security.
For the past few weeks, its been unclear whether the Trump administration would reimplement the charges.
Despite the confusion over timing, Trump has now confirmed the trade war is in full swing.
He also promised China, which already faces US tariffs on its products, will face an added 10% tariff also launching on March 4.
The reciprocal tariffs will start on April 2.
Trump has also floated slapping tariffs on auto imports, lumber, medical products, and other goods.
The president’s new announcement contradicts the previous timeline he laid out.
Howard Lutnick, Trump’s pick for commerce secretary, was expected to determine the appropriate tariff levels for each country by April 1.
Plus, on Wednesday, he seemingly suggested he would delay the tariffs for another month.
During a cabinet meeting in the White House, Trump said the planned tariffs would take place on April 2, adding “for everything.”
Why has Trump hit China with tariffs?
DONALD Trump signed an executive order promising to hit Chinese imports to the US with a tariff of 10%. But, why did he propose the levies?
Trump believes China has not done enough to stop the production of chemicals used to make the drug fentanyl.
China has slammed Trump for the claim and described fentanyl as America’s problem.
The country also said the tariffs are a “serious violation” of the World Trade Organization rules.
China is therefore filing a lawsuit with the WTO against the US for “wrongful practice”.
China serves as a major supplier of auto parts to the US.
Phones and computers along with other key electronic devices were also in the top imports from China last year, according to Commerce Department Data.
In 2023, the US imported around $427 billion worth of products from China in total, according to the US Census Bureau.
Data reveals that 78% of all smartphones imported from the US came from China.
Trump’s tariff threat has sparked fears of price rises for fashion items and toys.
Beijing has responded by outlining its own tariffs on American goods, sparking fears of an all-out trade war between the two powerhouses.
“I’m not stopping the tariffs,” he told reporters.
“Millions of people have died because of the fentanyl that comes over the border.”
Canada’s Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the country was working hard to stop fentanyl flowing in to America.
“I think there is an understanding that we have doubled down on our efforts for our own sake, to make sure there is zero fentanyl crossing the border and that we work together to control illegal immigration,” Champagne said on Wednesday.
“I think Canada is prepared to do its part.
“I think this is well understood by our colleagues in Washington and we’ll continue to make that point.”
It’s unclear how firm Trump’s stance on the tariffs will remain, but Americans have shared their concerns over heightened prices the taxes could bring.
Walmart CEO Douglas McMillon recently shared his uncertainty over the future in an earnings call for the company.
Plus, several experts told The U.S. Sun the costs of products like avocados and cell phones will skyrocket due to the new tariffs.
