Donald Trump on Monday said the 25 per cent tariffs planned for Canada and Mexico, United States’s two biggest trading partners, will go ahead as planned next month. Trump made the announcement while addressing a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron who is currently on a visit to the US.
“We’re on time with the tariffs, and it seems like that’s moving along very rapidly,” Donald Trump said. “We have been mistreated by many countries, not just Canada and Mexico and have been taken advantage of,” Trump added.
“Tariffs are going forward on time and on schedule,” he added.
Donald Trump’s reiteration of his harsh stance on tariffs comes even as Canada and Mexico have strengthened security along borders, reported news agency Reuters. The tariffs could also potentially worsen inflation and hurt the economy of North America.
Trump also reiterated that he thinks countries across the world have taken advantage of the US by levying heavy duties, calling it “abuse”. He said that he doesn’t blame the countries but the US leadership for allowing it to happen.
“Tariffs will go forward. Yes, we will make up a lot of territory. All we want is reciprocal, we want reciprocity. So if someone charges us we charge them, it is very simple. It will be very good for our country. Our country will be extremely liquid and rich again,” Trump said while talking about going ahead with his reciprocal tariffs plan.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, however, appeared hopeful that her country could strike a deal with the US government before the March 4 deadline, saying that if needed, she might speak with Trump directly.
