Special Poll
Former President Trump announced that tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will take effect next week as originally planned, while tariffs on Chinese goods will also increase in an effort to address the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump expressed concern over drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, which he linked to production and supply from China. “Drugs are still pouring into our country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels. A large percentage of these drugs, much of them in the form of fentanyl, are made in, and supplied by, China,” he wrote.
He confirmed that the new tariffs would proceed as scheduled, stating, “We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled. China will likewise be charged an additional 10% tariff on that date.”
Earlier this month, Trump had approved a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada but temporarily delayed enforcement after both countries took steps to address drug trafficking concerns. While there had been speculation about whether the tariffs would be enforced as planned, Trump’s latest statement made it clear that they would move forward. It remains uncertain whether Canada or Mexico can take additional measures to prevent the tariffs, which economic experts warn could negatively impact all three North American economies.
Meanwhile, Trump had already implemented a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports in response to fentanyl production, prompting China to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. He has also threatened additional tariffs on imports from any country that imposes tariffs on American products, with those measures expected to take effect in early April. Other proposed tariffs could target industries such as automobile imports, lumber, and pharmaceutical products, potentially leading to broader trade tensions.