Politicians

Canada, Mexico, and China vow to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs on imports

Canada, Mexico, and China have vowed to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs imposed on imports.

The U.S. president declared that a 25% levy on Canadian and Mexican imports, and a 10% tax on Chinese goods, would take effect on Tuesday, February 4th, 2025.

President Trump justified the tariffs as a response to concerns about !llegal immigration and dr*g tr@fficking, issues central to his political platform.

In retaliation, Canada, Mexico, and China announced their plans for countermeasures. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that Canada would impose 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods, including alcohol, fruits, vegetables, clothing, household appliances, and lumber.

The initial $30 billion in tariffs would take effect Tuesday, February 4th, 2025, with the remaining $125 billion following in 21 days.

“We don’t want to be here, we didn’t ask for this, but we will not back down in standing up for Canadians,” Trudeau said.

In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected U.S. accusations of ties between her government and dr*g cartels as “slander.” She urged the U.S. to focus on curbing the !llegal flow of firea*ms southward and tackling domestic dr*g demand.

Sheinbaum instructed her economy minister to implement retaliatory tariffs of 25% on U.S. goods. “Problems are not resolved by imposing tariffs, but by talking,” she said. She rejected allegations of government alliances with cr!minal organizations and criticized the U.S. for failing to address domestic issues related to dr*g consumption and money l@undering.

China, meanwhile, condemned the U.S. tariffs as unjustified and pledged “necessary countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests.” The Chinese government announced plans to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization and criticized the tariffs as harmful to global trade.

Economists and industry groups have expressed alarm over the potential consequences of the tariffs and retaliatory measures. Experts warn of rising prices for a wide range of products, including cars, lumber, steel, food, and alcohol.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and U.S. industry groups such as the National Homebuilders Association and Farmers for Free Trade have highlighted the potential for increased costs and economic disruption.

The U.S. auto industry is particularly vulnerable, as auto parts frequently cross borders multiple times during production. TD Economics estimates the tariffs could raise the average price of a U.S. car by approximately $3,000.

Despite these concerns, Trump signalled his readiness to escalate tariffs further if the affected countries retaliate.

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