DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,
US president-elect says measures will remain until countries stamp out illegal border crossings and drug trafficking.
United States President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to impose tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China in response to illegal border crossings and drug trafficking.
Trump announced on Monday that he would implement a 25 percent tariff on Mexican and Canadian imports and an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese products from day one of his administration. These measures will continue until the issues of undocumented migrants and drugs are resolved.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated, “Both Mexico and Canada have the power to easily solve this long-lasting issue. We demand that they take action, or they will face significant consequences!”
Additionally, Trump declared a 10 percent tariff on China, on top of any existing tariffs, until they address the smuggling of fentanyl into the US.
Trump criticized China for not following through on their promise to punish drug dealers, leading to a surge in drug trafficking, particularly from Mexico.
During his campaign, Trump promised high tariffs on Chinese goods and suggested even higher tariffs on Mexican vehicles to bring back manufacturing jobs to the US.
Economists warn that Trump’s proposed tariffs could increase prices for consumers and negatively impact global economic growth. However, supporters argue that tariffs could boost domestic manufacturing and strengthen the US position in trade negotiations.