Washington confirms tariffs against Mexico starting tomorrow

 

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that a general tariff of 25% will be imposed on Mexico and Canada, and 10% on China, starting tomorrow.

US President Donald Trump will impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on Saturday, as planned, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Friday (01/31/2025). "The president is going to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico, 25% tariffs on Canada and 10% tariffs on China for the illegal fentanyl they produce and allow to be distributed in our country" and for migrants who enter the United States illegally, she said.

Leavitt said she had just been in the Oval Office with US President Donald Trump and confirmed that these tariffs will be implemented tomorrow in retaliation for what Washington considers to be the permissiveness of these countries in the entry of fentanyl into the United States. "Well, the tariffs will go into effect tomorrow on Canada and the reason for that is that both Canada and Mexico have allowed an unprecedented invasion of illegal fentanyl, which is killing American citizens, in addition to the entry of illegal immigrants into our country," Leavitt said.

Leavitt explained that these tariffs will be "implemented and in effect" tomorrow, Saturday, February 1, as the president had promised. Leavitt said he had no updated information on whether the president had finally decided to grant an exception to oil imports from both countries.

The impending imposition of tariffs by Washington has generated uncertainty in both Mexico and Canada. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had "a plan A, a plan B and a plan C" in case the tariffs were finally imposed, although without detailing what they consisted of. The Canadian prime minister warned that Canada would respond "strongly" to the tariffs. "I think Justin Trudeau would do well to speak directly to President Trump before making such exaggerated comments to the media," Leavitt said.

lgc (afp, efe)