US President Donald Trump on Monday said that “there is no room left for Mexico or Canada”, confirming that a 25% tariff on imports will take effect Tuesday. The move has reignited trade war fears and crushed hopes for a last-minute deal with America’s key trading partners.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, President Trump said: “Tomorrow – tariffs 25% on Canada and 25% on Mexico will start.”
‘There is no room left for Mexico or Canada’
Initially, Trump had granted a one-month pause in February after both countries pledged concessions. However, on Monday, he made it clear that no further exemptions would be granted.
“There is no room left for Mexico or Canada,” he stated firmly. The tariffs are all set and are going to effect tomorrow,” he added.
20% tariff on Chinese imports
Trump also signed an order increasing a previously imposed 10% tariff on Chinese imports to 20%, the White House announced.
The decision, set to take effect the same day, was attributed to what the administration described as Beijing’s failure to combat the illicit fentanyl trade.
The Republican president imposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports on February 1, but temporarily suspended them on February 3 when both nations committed to addressing border-related concerns.
Last week, he announced the suspended tariffs would resume on Tuesday, citing ongoing concerns about substantial illegal drug traffickingillegal migration and curbing the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl from neighbouring countries into the United States.
Earlier in an effort to prevent broad-ranging duties, Mexico transferred several of its most infamous incarcerated drug lords to US custody last week. Among those extradited was a cartel leader long sought for killing an undercover US agent.
As Trump announced the tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, he also took jibes at Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid the recent blowout.
‘Zelenskyy should have been more appreciative’
Trump criticised Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s response to American support during Russia Ukraine war stating: “Well, I just think he (Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy) should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin. We have given them much more than Europe and Europe should have given more than us…They (Europe) were a lot smarter than Joe Biden because Joe Biden didn’t have a clue…They should have been able to equalize with us.”
I think it takes two to tango and if you are going to have to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine, you are going to have to have the assent and the consent from the European nations, because I think that’s important…Everybody has to get into a room, so to speak, and we have to make a deal and the deal can be made very fast. It should not be that hard a deal to make. It could be made very fast, he further continued.
‘Don’t think minerals deal can be….’
When asked whether a minerals deal between Washington and Kyiv, which was intended as a step toward resolving the conflict—was dead, Trump responded, “No, I don’t think so.”
“I don’t think so (that the minerals deal between the US and Ukraine can be revived). It is a great deal for us because Biden very foolishly, stupidly gave 350 billion dollars to a country to fight…We get nothing…We could have rebuilt our entire US Navy with 350 billion dollars…What we are doing is getting that all back,” the President said.
When questioned about reports suggesting his plans to terminate military assistance to Ukraine, Trump responded: “I haven’t even talked about that right now.”
“I mean, right now, we’ll see what happens. A lot of things are happening right now as we speak,” he said.
“I mean literally as we speak. I could give you an answer and go back to my office — the beautiful Oval Office — I could go back into the Oval Office and find out that the answer is obsolete,” he added.
(With inputs from agencies)
