Nations scramble as Donald Trump unveils more tariffs

By Hazel Camba

United States President Donald Trump has announced a new wave of tariffs set to take effect on March 4, targeting Mexican and Canadian goods with a 25% tariff, and Chinese imports with a 10% levy, prompting immediate responses from the affected nations. 

Fearing the economic fallout, officials from Mexico, Canada and China have vowed to take necessary measures, including diplomatic talks and potential retaliatory actions, to mitigate the impact of the tariffs. 

Canada vows ‘strong’ response  

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday pledged a “strong” response to Trump’s newly-imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, denouncing them as “unjustified”. 

Trump reportedly introduced the tariffs to pressure Canada into tightening its border security, claiming that large amounts of drugs, particularly fentanyl, are being smuggled into the US from Canada and Mexico.

“We will continue to do that work and do everything necessary to avoid these tariffs coming in, but like I said, if on Tuesday there are unjustified tariffs brought in on Canada, we will have an immediate and extremely strong response, as Canadians expect,” Trudeau said, as quoted by ndtv.com. 

The premier also vowed a unified response from all of the premiers, business leaders, and community leaders, saying that they all have one goal: “To make sure that come Tuesday and for the weeks that follow, there are no tariffs imposed on Canada.” 

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Additionally, Trudeau criticised Trump’s allegations on smuggled fentanyl, arguing that Canada is also struggling with the same crisis. 

He emphasised that less than one per cent of the fentanyl that arrives in the US is from Canada.   

Mexico seeks diplomatic solution

Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has ordered her Cabinet ministers to engage in diplomatic talks with their American counterparts in an effort to prevent the tariff on Mexico from taking effect.

“As you know, he has his way of communicating,” Sheinbaum said on Friday, referring to Trump. 

“But, as we always say: It takes a cool head and optimism to reach an accord,” she added, as quoted by latimes.com. 

Mexico on Thursday also extradited 29 drug trafficking suspects, including Rafael Caro Quintero, the infamous co-founder of the former Guadalajara cartel and the alleged mastermind of the 1985 murder of US Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique Camarena. 

China warns of retaliation

China has also been a target of Trump’s tariffs, with the US president imposing a 10% levy on all Chinese goods in early February, and now, an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports. 

This has prompted China to warn that it would retaliate with “all necessary” measures to protect its economic interests. 

“If the US insists on having its own way, China will counter with all necessary measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests,” a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce was quoted by The Detroit News on Friday. 

Reuters reported on Friday that the White House is in talks with Canada, Mexico and China about the proposed tariffs. No further details about the discussions have been released yet.

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