US President-elect Donald Trump declared on Tuesday night that one of his first steps after taking office will be to sign an executive order imposing tariffs of 25 percent on all goods imported into the US from Mexico and Canada. Tariffs will also increase by 10 percent on goods originating from China. He justified his decision by the insufficient fight of these states against drug smuggling and illegal migration. TASR informs about it based on a Reuters report.
Trump stated that Tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico will remain in place until both neighboring countries step up their fight against drug smuggling. especially fentanyl, and migrants who illegally cross the border with the USA. “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily resolve this long-standing issue. We hereby demand that they exercise this power, and until they do, it is time for them to pay a very high price!” Trump declared on his social network Truth.
In imposing additional tariffs on Chinese goods, Trump also referred to fentanyl smuggling and called on China to address the problem. “Chinese officials have told me that they will impose the maximum penalty, the death penalty, on any drug dealer caught doing this. unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs flow into our country, mostly through Mexico,” declared the president-elect.
Reuters reminds that in the pre-election campaign, Trump pledged to impose tariffs of more than 60 percent on Chinese imports. It is a much higher tariff than during his first term.
