Canada, Mexico immediately impose retaliatory tariffs on the US

Canada and Mexico have ordered retaliatory tariffs against new US tariffs after US President Donald Trump signed into law tariffs on the two neighbours.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on February 1 that he would impose a 25% tariff on CAD 155 billion ($106.5 billion) worth of US goods in response to new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. According to Reuters, the first CAD 30 billion tariff will take effect on February 4 and the remaining CAD 125 billion will take effect in 21 days.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose a 25% tax on Mexican and Canadian goods and a 10% tax on Chinese goods, citing their involvement in the fentanyl crisis and illegal immigration in the US. The new tax rates took effect on February 4, and Canadian energy products were only taxed at 10%.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a press conference in Ottawa on the evening of February 1 to announce retaliatory tariffs against the US.

"As I have said many times, tariffs on Canada will put your jobs at risk, potentially closing American auto assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities," Prime Minister Trudeau said, warning that gasoline and food prices would increase in the United States and affect consumers.

Prime Minister Trudeau urged Canadians to buy domestic products and travel domestically instead of to the U.S. He also said he was considering a number of non-tariff measures related to the purchase of critical minerals, energy and other cooperation.

He criticized the US tariffs as violating the free trade agreement between the three North American countries and emphasized that if the US wants to enter a golden age, it would be better for the country to cooperate instead of punishing Canada. Earlier, Mr. Trudeau said he would meet with provincial and cabinet leaders and contact the President of Mexico.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social network X on February 2 that she had instructed the Minister of Economy to implement Plan B, including tariff and non-tariff measures to protect the country's interests.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum holds a press conference in Mexico City on January 21.

The White House believes that Mexican drug trafficking organizations have unacceptable alliances with the country's government, according to CNN.

President Sheinbaum flatly denied the accusation and accused the US of slander. "If there is such a coalition, it must lie in the American gun stores that are selling high-powered weapons to these criminal groups," Ms. Sheinbaum said.

The Mexican president said the two neighboring countries should work together in a comprehensive way to fight drug trafficking and violence-causing criminal organizations.

China has not yet responded to the US action.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/canada-mexico-lap-tuc-danh-thue-dap-tra-my-185250202095550342.htm