W ashington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he would soon decide whether to exempt Canadian and Mexican oil imports from the 25% tariffs he plans to impose on Saturday.
“We may or may not. We’re going to make that determination probably tonight,” Trump said, adding that the decision would hinge on oil prices and whether the two neighboring countries “treat us properly.”
The tariffs, initially set as a measure to pressure Mexico and Canada into taking stricter actions against illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking, could see adjustments over time. Trump stated that the duties would be imposed “for a number of reasons” and hinted that the rate “may or may not rise with time.”
In addition to the North American tariffs, Trump reiterated his stance on China, threatening further trade penalties due to its alleged role in the fentanyl crisis. He warned of a potential 10% tariff on all Chinese goods, extending beyond the $370 billion in punitive tariffs previously imposed during his first term.
“With China, I’m also thinking about something because they’re sending fentanyl into our country and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths,” Trump said. “China is going to end up paying a tariff for that, and we’re in the process of making that happen.”
Trump’s comments come despite Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2023 commitment to working with then-President Joe Biden to curb fentanyl shipments into the U.S. Beijing, however, has urged Washington to focus on reducing domestic drug demand.
While Mexico’s economy ministry declined to comment on Trump’s latest remarks, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not immediately available for a response.
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