US President Donald Trump signed an order on Saturday to impose tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China.
The White House said the tariffs were in response to the three countries allowing illegal drugs to enter the US.
“President Trump is taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country,” a statement from the White House said.
Tariffs of 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese products, had been imposed “until the crisis is alleviated,” the statement said.
Energy resources from Canada will have a lower 10% tariff, it added.
The orders state any retaliatory action by the three countries could see the tariffs increased or expanded.
Following Trump’s announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on X he would be speaking with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum shortly.
“We did not want this, but Canada is prepared.”
On Friday, Trudeau warned of a “forceful and immediate response” if the US followed through with the threat of tariffs.
Trump originally wanted to introduce the duties on the first day of his presidency, but he then set a deadline of February 1.
Trump won November’s presidential election promising to slap high tariffs on foreign goods. He previously implemented a number of duties during his first term from 2017 to 2021.
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