MONITORING (SW) – US President Donald Trump on Saturday ordered sweeping tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, demanding they stanch the flow of fentanyl — and illegal immigrants in the case of Canada and Mexico — into the United States, kicking off a trade war that could dent global growth and reignite inflation.
Mexico and Canada, the top two US trading partners, immediately vowed retaliatory tariffs, while China said it would challenge Trump’s move at the World Trade Organisation and take other “countermeasures”.
In three executive orders, Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Mexican and most Canadian imports and 10pc on goods from China, starting on Tuesday, reported Reuters.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would respond with 25pc tariffs against $155 billion of US goods, including beer, wine, lumber and appliances, beginning with $30bn taking effect on Tuesday and $125bn 21 days later.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in a post on X, said she was instructing her economy minister to implement retaliatory tariffs but gave no details.
Canada and Mexico said they were working together to face Trump’s tariffs.
China’s Commerce Ministry did not specify its planned countermeasures. Its statement left open the door for talks between Washington and Beijing.
