Summary
Donald Trump pledged to impose a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada on his first day in office, blaming them for failing to stop illegal drugs and immigration.
He also vowed to add a 10% tariff on Chinese goods until drug trafficking into the U.S. ceases.
Economists warn these tariffs could drive up consumer prices and inflation.
While violent crime has declined in recent years, Trump continues to link trade measures to border security and drug issues, echoing his first-term trade policies and immigration stance.
The tariffs won’t be effective on jan 20th. Certainly there will be specific ultimatums made to both countries, and it is irresponsible to set a tariff date, and then later “negotiate the specific threats/ultimatums” to reverse the tariffs. There are government agencies that need to prepare for policy.
Specific to Canada, there is a long history of free trade with comparable wages in auto sector, such that even some parts are shipped across the border for processing and shipped back. A conflict of interest with Musk, is that he doesn’t mind destroying North American Auto sector, or big 3 anyway.
Trump himself signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (which replaced NAFTA) in his first term ensuring tariff free trade between the 3 nations. So Canada and Mexico are about to learn the lesson that trump’s own signed legislation doesn’t hold water.
Looks like Mexico and Canada will get to enjoy some free and prosperous trade between two abiding nations with a beligerant middle child crying about it.
That ended up as pretty minimal changes to NAFTA after a giant fuss.