Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that as soon as he takes the oath of office, he will sign an executive order imposing heavy tariffs on goods imported from Mexico, Canada, and China.
In a post on his social media platform “Truth,” Trump stated that he plans to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada and increase existing tariffs on Chinese goods by an additional 10%.
Trump further explained that the tariffs on Mexico and Canada will remain in place until these countries effectively curb drug smuggling and illegal immigration into the U.S. He emphasized, “Both Mexico and Canada have the full right and capability to resolve this issue, and the time has come for them to act or face the consequences.”
In another post, Trump revealed that the additional 10% tariff on China will stay until Beijing fulfills its promise to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers.
It is worth noting that the U.S. has held China responsible for the smuggling of fentanyl, a synthetic drug far more potent than heroin, into the country. The Biden administration also pressed China to take stronger measures to curb fentanyl production, which caused approximately 75,000 deaths in the U.S. last year.
In response, a Chinese spokesperson stated that it is unfounded to claim that China knowingly allowed the production and shipment of fentanyl precursors to the U.S. The spokesperson further warned, “No one can win a trade or tariff war. Economic and trade cooperation is essential to achieving mutual interests between the two nations.”
