Trump’s decree includes a climbing mechanism for rates applied by the United States in the event of reprisals on the part of other countries, which causes the spectrum of an even more serious global economic disturbance.
President Donald Trump signed an imposing decree of customs rights on imports on the United States from Mexico, Canada and China, aroused rapid reprisals from the country’s North American neighbors in the country on Saturday in the country’s North American The framework of an emerging trade war.
The republican president indicated on social media that customs duties were necessary “to protect the Americans”, pressing the three countries to do more to slow down the manufacture and export of illegal fentanyl and asking Canada and Mexico to reduce illegal immigration to the United States.
Customs duties, if maintained, could lead to a significant worsening of inflation, which could erode the confidence of voters in Mr. Trump’s ability to reduce, as he promised, prices for products food, gasoline, housing, cars and other goods.
Trump declared the state of economic emergency to impose customs duties of 10 % on all imports from China and 25 % on imports from the Mexico and Canada. But Energy imported from Canadaincluding oil, natural gas and electricity, would be taxed at a rate of 10 %.
This measure caused an economic deadlock with the two largest trade partners in the United States, Mexico and Canada, overwhelmingly over-decades, with the possibility of severe reprisals on the part of these two countries.
The president Mexican Immediately ordered the application of customs duties in retaliation and the Canadian Prime Minister said that his country would apply customs duties equivalent to 25 % on American imports of up to $ 155 billion. China did not immediately react to Mr. Trump’s action.
Prime Minister canadian Justin Trudeau said on Saturday that Canadian customs duties out of $ 30 billion in American alcohol and fruit exchanges would come into effect on Tuesday, when American customs duties come into effect. He started his speech to Canadians with a message for American consumers.
“This will have real consequences for you, the American people,” he said, saying that this would result in the prices of food products and other goods.
Trudeau echoes many Canadians who feel betrayed by their longtime neighbor and ally, reminding Americans that Canadian troops have fought alongside them in Afghanistan.
“The measures taken today by the White House divide us instead of gathering us,” said Mr. Trudeau, warning in French that they could lead to “dark time” for many people.
The president of MexicoClaudia Sheinbaum, said that she had instructed her Minister of the Economy to implement a response including retaliatory customs duties and other measures to defend the interests of Mexico.
“We categorically reject the slanders of the White House according to which the Mexican government would have alliances with criminal organizations and intends to interfere in our territory,” wrote Ms. Sheinbaum in a message published on X.
“If the government of the United States and its agencies wanted to tackle the serious consumption of fentanyl in their country, they could fight against the sale of drugs in the streets of their big cities, which they do not do, and Against the money laundering that this illegal activity generates and which has done so much difficulty in its population. “
As Reuters reported, the government Chinese Denounced the Trump Administration of Customs Rights of 10 % on Chinese imports on Sunday, long threatened, while leaving the door open to discussions with the United States which could avoid worsening the conflict.
Beijing will dispute President Donald Trump’s customs duties before the World Trade Organization – a symbolic gesture – and will take “countermeasures” not specified in response to the tax, which comes into force on Tuesday, Chinese ministries said finances and trade.
ADVERTISEMENTThis answer avoided the immediate escalation which had marked the commercial confrontation between China and Mr. Trump during his first presidential mandate and reiterated the more measured language used by Beijing in recent weeks.
Additional sources • Adaptation: Serge Duchêne
