NEW YORK — President-elect Trump plans to implement significant new tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China upon assuming office, aiming to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
These tariffs, if enacted, could impact a wide range of products, from fuel to vehicles. The U.S., the world’s leading importer, relies heavily on these three nations as its primary suppliers, according to recent data.
Trump issued these threats via posts on Truth Social, citing concerns about illegal immigration, despite border crossings being at a four-year low.
“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he stated, asserting that “thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” despite a decrease in violent crime since the pandemic.
He indicated these tariffs would remain until the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal immigrants ceases.
He also criticized China, stating that despite prior discussions regarding fentanyl shipments to the U.S., no progress has been made.
“Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” he wrote.
It remains uncertain whether Trump will follow through with these threats, or if this is a negotiating tactic.
Arrests of individuals illegally crossing the border from Mexico have declined and were near a four-year low in October, according to recent U.S. figures.
Border Patrol recorded 56,530 arrests in October, less than a third of the previous October’s total.
A substantial amount of America’s fentanyl is smuggled from Mexico. Border seizures of the drug increased sharply under President Biden; approximately 21,900 pounds (12,247 kilograms) were seized in fiscal year 2024, compared to 2,545 pounds (1,154 kilograms) in 2019 during Trump’s presidency.
Trump’s treasury secretary nominee, Scott Bessent, if confirmed, would be among those responsible for implementing tariffs. He has previously advocated for tariffs as a negotiating tool with other countries.
He wrote in an article last week, before his nomination, that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the President’s foreign policy objectives. Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defense, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing cooperation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.”
The threatened tariffs would present significant economic challenges for Canada and Mexico, in particular.
They would also cast doubt on the stability of the 2020 trade deal, largely negotiated by Trump, which is subject to review in 2026.
Spokespeople for Canada’s ambassador to Washington and its deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, who heads a special Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations addressing concerns about another Trump presidency, did not immediately respond.
Trump’s promised mass deportation efforts are a key focus for the Cabinet committee, according to Freeland.
A senior Canadian official, speaking anonymously due to authorization restrictions, stated that Canadian officials anticipate Trump issuing executive orders on trade and border issues immediately upon assuming office.
Mexico’s Foreign Relations and Economy Departments also had no immediate response to Trump’s statements. These significant matters are typically addressed by the President during her morning press briefings.
—Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Robert Gillies in Toronto, Mark Stevenson in Mexico City, Fatima Hussein and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.
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