Trump Pauses Tariffs on Mexico After Mexican President Agrees to Send 10,000 Troops to Help Secure Border
President Donald Trump agreed to delay a 25 percent tariff on all Mexican imports Monday after the Mexican president vowed to ramp up security on its border. [Update: Trump announced later Monday that he has reached a similar agreement with Canada.]
The president signed an executive order Saturday to place 25 percent tariffs on nearly all goods coming into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico starting on Tuesday.
“The orders make clear that the flow of contraband drugs like fentanyl to the United States, through illicit distribution networks, has created a national emergency, including a public health crisis,” Trump’s EO states.
Canada and Mexico immediately threatened retaliatory tariffs in response.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday night that Canada would respond by issuing a 25 percent tariff on U.S. goods. Trudeau said the the tariffs would come in about three weeks “to allow Canadian companies and supply chains to seek to find alternatives.”
About 26 percent of imports into the U.S. currently come from Canada (13.1 percent) and Mexico (12.6 percent). Meanwhile, the vast majority of Canada (77 percent) and Mexico’s (83 percent) exports go to the U.S., according to 2023 statistics.
Trump announced on Truth Social Monday morning he had just spoken with Trudeau and would be speaking with him again at 3:00 p.m.
“Canada doesn’t even allow U.S. Banks to open or do business there,” the president said. “What’s that all about? Many such things, but it’s also a DRUG WAR, and hundreds of thousands of people have died in the U.S. from drugs pouring through the Borders of Mexico and Canada.”
Trump also placed a 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports, saying “Chinese officials have failed to take the actions necessary to stem the flow of [fentanyl] precursor chemicals to known criminal cartels and shut down money laundering by transnational criminal organizations.”
The tariff on China was also a response to Chicoms’ “intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, and other unreasonable behavior,” according to the EO.
China said it would challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization and threatened to conduct other unspecified “countermeasures.”
The president announced Monday morning that because the Mexican president promised substantial help with border security, the U.S. will pause the tariff on Mexico for one month as U.S.-Mexico negotiations continue.
“I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States. These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our Country. We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico. I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a “deal” between our two Countries.
Sheinbaum likewise posted on social media that Mexico will immediately bolster border security with 10,000 members of the its national guard.
“We had a good conversation with President Trump with great respect for our relationship and sovereignty; we reached a series of agreements,” Sheinbaum posted on X.
1. Mexico will immediately reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, particularly fentanyl.
2. The United States is committed to working to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico.
3. Our teams will begin working today on two fronts: security and trade.
They are pausing tariffs for one month from now.
Vice President JD Vance spiked the football on social media, following the agreement.
“For three days a lot of the far left has actively rooted against America and argued we’d get nothing out of President Trump’s demands that Mexico secure its country,” Vance posted on X. “Well, how do you like them apples?”
UPDATE:
After his call with Trudeau, Trump announced on Truth Social that the prime minister had agreed to his terms.
Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border, and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl that have been pouring into our Country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, while destroying their families and communities all across our Country.
Canada will implement their $1.3 Billion Border plan, and as per Prime Minister Trudeau, will be, “reinforcing the Border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are, and will be, working on protecting the Border. In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the Border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million.”
As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!