Doug Mills / POOL / EPA
US President Donald Trump has decreed new customs rates on products imported from Canada, Mexico and China, fulfilling what he promised and opening a trade war with unpredictable consequences.
Trump defined that the Products imported from Canada and Mexico will pay customs 25%while imports from China will be subject to taxes 10%.
In the case of Canada, Trump defined a Special rate of 10% for energy imports. Many Americans depend on Canadian energy products, including oil, electricity and natural gas, for fuel and residential heating.
In the case of oil, 60% of US imports come from Canada.
To approve these measures without going through Congress, Trump used a prerogative of US presidents that allows them to make Changes by Decree in themes related to international trade.
Several republican senators are against increasing tariffswhich could spoke Trump’s measure in Congress.
The US President justifies the measure with the “great threat of illegal immigrants”And from “Lethal Drugs” that “kill” the Americans, “citing on concrete” o “, according to a publication that he shared on social networks.
“We need protect Americansand it’s my duty as a president to ensure everyone’s security, ”he said.
“During my campaign, I made the promise to stop the flood of illegal immigrants and drugs that go through our borders, and the Americans voted overwhelmingly in favor That, ”he concluded.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
This step of Trump opens the door to a trade warinviting Canada, Mexico and China to retaliate, with an increase in tariffs on US products.
This can motivate a considerable increase in costs for consumersbut it can also result in disturbances in supply chains and even loss of jobs.
A Trump administration official has told reporters that any retaliation from Canada, Mexico and China will result in even higher fares.
