WASHINGTON — The United States has paused implementing tariffs on Mexico and Canada for a month following conversations on Monday with President Donald Trump, according to each country’s leader.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on social media Monday afternoon that Canada would spend $1.3 billion to reinforce its border, as well as additional resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Canada had announced its $1.3 billion border plan at the end of last year.
Earlier in the day, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on social media that Mexico will reinforce its northern border with 10,000 members of its national guard to address drug trafficking from Mexico into the United States.
Sheinbaum said Trump asked her how long the tariffs should be paused, and she initially said forever.
Trump responded with two separate social media posts on Truth Social. The President said Canada tariffs would be “paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured.”
Meanwhile, for Mexico, Trump said the United States will continue negotiations with Mexico over border security.
Trump signed an executive order Saturday to place 25% tariffs on goods coming into the United States from Canada and Mexico starting Tuesday. The move risked triggering a trade war with two of America’s closest trading partners.
Trump also placed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, which went into effect on Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. ET, shortly after which China announced its own tariffs on some U.S. products.
China said it will challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization and take “countermeasures” in response.
Trump dismissed the idea of trading with Canada, saying America has their own supplies.
“We don’t need them to make our cars. We don’t need them to give us lumber. We don’t need them for agricultural products, because we have all the agriculture we need,” he said.
