
Canadian, Mexican and Chinese language flags.
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U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday imposed long-threatened tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China — and it did not take lengthy for the international locations to reply.
Trump signed an order slapping 25% tariffs on items from Mexico and Canada, and a ten% obligation on Chinese language imports, attributable to begin on Tuesday. Vitality assets from Canada face a decrease, 10% tariff to “decrease any disruptive results we would have on gasoline and residential heating oil costs,” based on a senior administration official.
Within the govt order, Trump mentioned that if the international locations — the U.S.’s three-largest buying and selling companions — retaliate, it could possibly be met with an “improve or develop in scope” of the duties already imposed.
In a submit on X, Trump mentioned the duties had been imposed “due to the foremost menace of unlawful aliens and lethal medication killing our Residents, together with fentanyl.”
The U.S. does about $1.6 trillion in enterprise every year with Canada, Mexico and China. The tariffs are anticipated for use as each bargaining chips and strategies to impact overseas coverage modifications — particularly relating to immigration and drug commerce points — by the Trump administration.
Response from one of many three international locations was swift and decisive, whereas the others appeared to take extra of a wait-and-see method to Trump’s tariffs. Here’s a have a look at their responses.
Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slapped retaliatory tariffs of 25% in opposition to $155 billion of U.S. items quickly after the Trump tariffs have been introduced.
He mentioned duties on $30 billion price of U.S. items can be imposed on Tuesday, with tariffs on an extra $125 billion price of merchandise are attributable to be launched in 21 days, “to permit Canadian corporations and provide chains to hunt to search out alternate options.”
“Just like the American tariffs, our response will even be far-reaching and embody on a regular basis gadgets corresponding to American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, together with orange juice, together with greens, fragrance, clothes and footwear,” Trudeau mentioned in a press convention on Saturday night. “It will embody main shopper merchandise like family home equipment, furnishings and sports activities gear, and supplies like lumber and plastics, together with a lot, way more.”
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks, flanked by (from L) Minister of Public Security David McGuinty, Minister of Overseas Affairs Melanie Joly and Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc, throughout a information convention Feb. 1, 2025.
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Addressing Americans straight, Trudeau added: “This can be a selection that, sure, will hurt Canadians, however past that, it can have actual penalties for you, the American folks.”
Retaliatory tariffs are anticipated to additional exacerbate worth hikes in each the U.S. and elsewhere. The value of all the pieces from vehicles and electronics to toys and meals is anticipated to be impacted.
Trudeau added that “it does not should be this fashion.”
“Sure, we have had our variations previously, however we have all the time discovered a strategy to get previous them. As I’ve mentioned earlier than, if President Trump needs to usher in a brand new golden age for the US, the higher path is to associate with Canada, to not punish us,” he mentioned.
Mexico
Mexico additionally vowed retaliation following the information, though didn’t reveal specifics.
President Claudia Sheinbaum slammed Trump’s tariffs and mentioned she had instructed the secretary of the financial system to “implement the Plan B we have now been engaged on, which incorporates tariff and non-tariff measures in protection of Mexico’s pursuits.”
In a lengthy submit on X, the president added: “We categorically reject the White Home’s slander of the Authorities of Mexico alleging alliances with legal organizations, in addition to any intention to intrude in our territory.”
“Mexico doesn’t need confrontation. We begin from the collaboration between neighboring international locations,” she mentioned within the submit, translated by NBC. “Mexico not solely doesn’t need fentanyl to succeed in the US, it doesn’t need it to succeed in anyplace.”
“We should work collectively in a complete method, however all the time below the rules of shared accountability, mutual belief, collaboration and above all, respect for sovereignty, which is non-negotiable. Coordination, sure; subordination, no,” she added.
China
China mentioned it will file a lawsuit with the World Commerce Group in response to the duties, and “take vital countermeasures.”
“The U.S.’s unilateral tariff hike significantly violates WTO guidelines, does nothing to resolve its personal points, and disrupts regular financial and commerce cooperation between China and the U.S.,” the Chinese language Ministry of Commerce mentioned in a press release Sunday, based on an NBC translation.
“In response to this wrongful motion, China will file a lawsuit with the WTO and take vital countermeasures to firmly safeguard its rights and pursuits.” China has complained to the WTO over tariffs earlier than, notably relating to the EU’s tariffs on Chinese language EVs final 12 months.

The truth that China stopped in need of fast escalation has raised hopes that there could possibly be some room to keep away from an all-out commerce warfare between the 2 international locations. The decrease, 10%-tariffs imposed on Chinese language-made items may additionally be a reduction given repeated threats made by Trump on the marketing campaign path to impose duties of 60% or extra on imports from the nation.
In its assertion, China pushed again on Trump’s feedback about fentanyl, describing it as a “home difficulty.”
“China urges the U.S. to take an goal and rational method to its home points, together with fentanyl, fairly than resorting to tariff threats in opposition to different international locations,” it mentioned.
Artificial opioid fentanyl is an addictive drug that causes many 1000’s of overdose deaths every year within the U.S. The chemical substances wanted to make the drug are principally produced in China and Mexico. Washington and Beijing had beforehand agreed to cooperate on the problem.
‘World commerce warfare
In a be aware on Sunday, Paul Ashworth, Capital Economics’ chief North America economist, mentioned the tariffs have been “simply the primary strike in what may grow to be a really damaging international commerce warfare.”
He mentioned he expects European Union imports to be focused within the subsequent couple of months, with common tariffs — a lot heralded by Trump on the marketing campaign path — anticipated in April.
The financial impression can be important for all international locations concerned, based on Ashworth.
“Since exports to the U.S. account for round 20% of their GDP, at present’s tariffs may plunge each the Canadian and Mexican economies into recession later this 12 months,” he wrote.
“The ensuing surge in U.S. inflation from these tariffs and different futures measures goes to come back even quicker and be bigger than we initially anticipated.”
— CNBC’s Tanaya Macheel, Kevin Breuninger and Jeff Cox contributed to this report.