America Pauses Planned Tariffs on Trade Partners

AP Photos/Richard Drew

 The United States has recently paused its efforts to implement tariffs on American trade partners for about 30 days (about four and a half weeks). This comes amidst tensions between Canada and Mexico who are key trading partners for Americans. The Trump administration would implement a 25% tariff on imported goods from Canada and Mexico, while China would have received an additional 10% tariff on imports. While the tariffs are paused on Canada and Mexico, the question is why the United States wanted to put tariffs on our trading partners, and whether he will threaten other partners with tariffs as well.  

Dean Musgrove/The Orange County Register, via Associated Press

One reason for implementing tariffs in China, Mexico, and Canada was to hold them accountable to halt illegal immigration. According to the Trump Administration, they state that “Chinese officials have failed to take the actions necessary to stem the flow of precursor chemicals to known criminal cartels and shut down money laundering by transnational criminal organizations...the government of Mexico has afforded safe havens for the cartels to engage in the manufacturing and transportation of dangerous narcotics...there is also a growing presence of Mexican cartels operating fentanyl and nitazene synthesis labs in Canada. A recent study recognized Canada’s heightened domestic production of fentanyl and its growing footprint within international narcotics distribution.” 

REUTERS/Raquel Cunha/File Photo

After a phone call between President Trump and President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the Mexican government has agreed to deploy 10,000 soldiers to the American border to deter cartel trafficking into the United States. Canada was also spared from the tariffs after a phone call from the President of the United States. When asked if the President will issue tariffs on the United Kingdom and the EU he said, “Pretty soon.” 

Whether the President will issue tariffs on our European partners remains uncertain. Time can only tell what the President will do if our trading partners are not willing to make a deal with the United States.