Trump to levy tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, China

KABUL (Pajhwok): US President Donald Trump is set to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico, 25% on Canada, and 10% on China, the BBC reported on Saturday.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the tariffs on Canada and Mexico were in response to "the illegal fentanyl that they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country, which has killed tens of millions of Americans."

Trump has also repeatedly linked these tariffs to addressing the large numbers of undocumented migrants crossing the US border, as well as trade deficits with its neighbors.

Leavitt emphasized during a briefing on Friday: "These are promises made and promises kept by the President."

In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, "It's not what we want, but if he moves forward, we will also act."

Trump has also indicated plans to impose tariffs on the European Union in the future, criticizing the bloc for not treating the US well.

During his election campaign, Trump had threatened to impose tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese-made products, though he refrained from taking immediate action on his first day back in the White House, instead directing his administration to study the issue further.

China, Canada, and Mexico are the top US trading partners, accounting for 40% of the goods imported into the US last year.

sa