After Mexico agreed to increase border security, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico announced Monday that the United States would postpone for a month a proposed 25% tariff on all goods entering the country from Mexico.
Sheinbaum wrote on social media that in order to combat drug trafficking from Mexico into the United States, especially fentanyl, Mexico will immediately bolster the northern border with 10,000 National Guard personnel.
The one-month hold was confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and more talks between the United States and Mexico are expected to take place.
Trump took the action after signing an executive order on Saturday that would impose a 25% tax on almost all goods entering the United States from Canada and Mexico beginning on Tuesday. Canada responded to the action with retaliatory duties, and Mexico had promised to follow suit.
Economists and business leaders said that the tariffs may increase costs in the United States and cause an economic slowdown, which caused stocks to decline. Mexico is the top importer of goods into the United States.
Trump and administration officials have sent conflicting messages since the announcement on Saturday regarding the purpose of the tariffs and the necessary actions to have them removed.
In the presidential order imposing the tariffs, the White House said that the action was a reaction to the influx of immigration and fentanyl from Canada and Mexico, which Trump was claiming was a national emergency. In a national emergency, the president can control trade under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
However, Trump appeared to go against that logic in a number of social media tweets over the weekend, urging businesses to produce their goods in the United States and pointing to a trade deficit with the three nations. Trump claimed in a different post that the tariffs would force Canada to join the United States.
We give SUBSIDIZE Canada hundreds of billions of dollars. Why? There’s no explanation. Nothing they have is necessary for us. We should build our own cars, have more lumber than we can ever use, and have limitless energy. Canada is no longer a viable nation without this enormous subsidy. It’s harsh, but accurate! Canada ought to become our beloved 51st state as a result. The Canadian people will benefit from significantly better military protection, far reduced taxes, and no tariffs! Trump stated on Truth Social.
In an appearance on cable news this morning, administration representatives reaffirmed that the action was related to immigration and drugs and charged that Canada had misunderstood the purpose of the tariffs.
“This is about fentanyl, not a trade war with Canada, Mexico, or China,” stated Interior Secretary Douglas Burgum on Fox News. “We ve had a mass invasion of our country.”