Trump Signs Order: U.S. Officially Imposes Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China | WPN World People News

White House Announces: Trump Signs Executive Order Imposing Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, On the 1st, the White House spokesperson announced that President Trump had signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, effective immediately. According to CNBC, the energy tariff on Canada will be reduced to 10% to mitigate the impact on gasoline and other energy prices. Additionally, under the new order, if these countries retaliate against the U.S. in any way, the tariffs will escalate, sending shockwaves across the globe.

President Trump previously posted on the X platform, citing the powers granted to the president under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify tariff retaliation against the three countries. He stated that the tariffs were implemented “because illegal immigration and deadly drugs like fentanyl pose a major threat to the lives of our citizens.” He added, “We need to protect Americans. As president, I have a responsibility to ensure everyone’s safety.” Furthermore, Trump announced on X: “On February 18, we will finally impose tariffs on chips, oil, and natural gas, as well as steel, aluminum, and copper.”

Following Trump’s announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared that Canada would take strong countermeasures immediately and announced a 25% retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed strong opposition and ordered her Minister of Economy to implement both tariff and non-tariff measures to defend Mexico’s interests. However, she also stated on X that her government does not seek confrontation with the U.S. but instead aims for cooperation and dialogue.

The move has sparked mixed reactions. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a statement saying: “The president is right to focus on critical issues such as border security and fentanyl, but imposing tariffs under IEEPA is unprecedented. Tariffs will not solve these problems—they will only raise costs for American families and disrupt supply chains.” Experts are now evaluating the economic impact of these tariffs. Economists warn that full implementation could lead to rising prices, but the Trump administration argues that tariffs will bring manufacturing back to the U.S., boost employment and wages, and counter inflation by easing energy regulations to lower oil prices.

The U.S. trades approximately $1.6 trillion annually with these three nations. CNBC believes that Trump is using tariffs as a diplomatic tool, particularly regarding immigration and drug trafficking issues. Previously, Colombia had refused to accept deported migrants, but after Trump threatened tariffs, the Colombian government reversed its stance, demonstrating the political power of tariffs. Tariffs have long been a key component of Trump’s economic policy. During his campaign, he famously declared that "tariffs are the fourth most beautiful word in the dictionary, after ‘God,’ ‘love,’ and ‘religion.’” In his first term, Trump imposed heavy tariffs on China, leading to a major shift in the global economic landscape. In 2023, Mexico surpassed China as the United States' largest source of imports. This new trade war is expected to further reshape the global economy.