Tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on imports from Canada, China and Mexico will take effect this weekend, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Friday.
“The President will impose a 25% tariff on Mexico, a 25% tariff on Canada, and a 10% tariff on China for the illegal fentanyl they produce and allow to be distributed in our country,” Leavitt said.
The tariffs are to take effect on Saturday.
Announcing the tariffs at a White House press conference on Thursday, Trump explained the reasons behind his decision.
"Number one is the people that have poured into our country so horribly and so much," Trump said. “Number two are the drugs, fentanyl and everything else that have come into the country. Number three are the massive subsidies that we’re giving to Canada and to Mexico in the form of deficits.”
Reacting to Trump's announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would retaliate in a "forceful but reasonable" manner to any tariffs imposed by the US as it braces for a trade war.
“I won’t sugarcoat it – our nation could be facing difficult times in the coming days and weeks,” Trudeau said on Friday while speaking to an advisory council on Canada-US relations.
“I know Canadians might be anxious and worried, but I want them to know the federal government – and indeed, all orders of government – have their backs,” he added.
Trump had also hinted that tariffs could be imposed on oil imported from the two neighbouring countries.
“We may or may not (impose tariffs on oil)," Trump told reporters on Thursday. “We’re going to make that determination probably tonight,” he said, adding that this would be based on whether the price of oil charged by Mexico and Canada was fair.
