By: Kanwal Abidi.
Washington D.C. USA : President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to a pause in
implementing tariffs for at least a month, just hours after Trump agreed to delay tariffs on Mexico.
The announced delay on the 25 percent tariffs — set to start Tuesday — came after Trump and Trudeau’s second conversation Monday.
Trump said Canada agreed to secure the northern border and work to combat the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., adding that it will implement its $1.3 billion border plan and agreed to take other steps to secure the border.
“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!” Trump said on Truth Social.
Trudeau, while announcing the pause on social platform X, outlined Canada’s new plans, which will appoint a “Fentanyl Czar,” list cartels as terrorists, “ensure 24/7 eyes” on the U.S.-Canadian border, and launch a joint strike force with the U.S. to take on crime, fentanyl flow and money laundering.
Trump and Trudeau both signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl with $200 million in funding, they said. And, Trudeau noted that Canada is implementing its $1.3 billion border plan to reinforce the border with new equipment and personnel. “Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border,” Trudeau said.
The agreement with Canada mirrors the same deal Trump struck with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum earlier Monday, ahead of implementation of 25 percent tariffs on Mexico.
They announced Mexico will send to the U.S. border 10,000 soldiers tasked with stopping the flow of fentanyl and immigrants entering the U.S. illegally.
Trump on Saturday signed off on 25 percent tariffs on both Mexico and Canada and 10 percent tariffs on China. There has not been an announcement about the tariffs on China, although China’s Ministry of Commerce said it would file a legal case against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization.
Trudeau said Sunday night that Canada would impose 25 percent tariffs on more than $100 billion in U.S. goods. Trudeau’s likely successor, Pierre Poilievre, called Trump’s tariffs “unjust and unjustified” and called for a “dollar-for-dollar” response.
The President also reiterated his desire to see Canada become part of the U.S. earlier Monday, downplaying the significance of the economic relationship between the two countries, even though Canada is one of the U.S.’s top trade partners.
