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The White House said in a move that might lead to the first war of its new presidency.
White House journalist Caroline Levitte told reporters on Friday that Washington will strike Canada and Mexico by 25 percent of the customs tariff and China by 10 percent of the fees.
“On the deadline that President Trump put in a statement several weeks ago,” Levitte said.
“The president explained this: this tariff will be implemented and in fact,” Levitte said. “If the president decides, at any time, he will respond to these definitions, I will leave it to him to make this decision. But starting tomorrow, these definitions will be in place.”
The hitting of the three largest commercial partners in the United States, with a highly declining tariff, raises the risk of igniting the first complete trade war for Trump’s second presidency in his second week only at the White House.
Both Canada and Mexico have prepared a package of revenge definitions, according to the people familiar with this process, and they are ready to apply it immediately.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday.
On Friday, the former Finance Minister of Canada Christia Freeland, who runs to replace Trudeau, said that Ottawa should be reduced from any American tariff by adding huge drawings on Tesla vehicles to punish Elon Musk, one of Trump’s best allies.
The White House plans to move forward in commercial measures came after previous reports stated that they could be delayed until March, which Levit described as a “mistake.”
She said: “These promises were made and the promises kept by the president.”
Trump first threatened to strike Canada, Mexico and China with severe definitions in November, accusing them of allowing illegal immigration and not doing enough to stop trade in fentanel, which is illegal and deadly.
Washington’s business pressure groups, which are concerned about the impacts of American supply chains and goods costs, have expressed their hope that the president will take a more moderate approach and not apply a 25 percent tax immediately.
Other options included delaying definitions to allow Canadian and Mexican governments at more time to negotiate with the Trump team about border security, or gradually provide definitions and increase over time.
Trump said on Thursday that he is considering excluding oil imports from definitions – which reflects the United States’ dependence on its neighbor to obtain huge energy supplies. Canada represents about one in five barrels of oil consumed in the United States and about 60 percent of imported crude.
Levitte said on Friday that it “has no update or readings” on any possible exemptions, but the customs tariff will be announced on Saturday.
The currencies, with the Canadian dollar, swings from a strong gain to a small loss by Friday afternoon in New York, at a price of 1.45 Canadian dollars to the dollar. Mexican Peso cast great gains for trading. A scale of the US dollar increased against six other peers by 0.6 percent.
Additional reports by Harriet Klifelt
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2025-01-31 19:26:00
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