The Trump administration has paused tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods and services covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade agreement between the three nations implemented during Trump’s first presidency, for one month.
These goods will be exempt from Trump’s sweeping 25% tariffs until April 2.
Trump announced the tariffs delay for Mexico in a post on social media earlier on Thursday, with Reuters and Bloomberg reporting in the afternoon that Canada will also be included.
“After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump said he made this accommodation “out of respect for, President Sheinbaum.”
“Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl,” he wrote.
Mexican president Sheinbaum thanked the president for a “respectful” discussion about the tariffs.
“We will continue to work together, particularly on migration and security issues, which include reducing the illegal crossing of fentanyl into the United States, as well as weapons into Mexico,” she wrote in a post on X.
In response to Trump’s tariffs, Ontario premier Doug Ford on Thursday announced the province will be going ahead with a 25% tax on electricity it provides to New York, Michigan and Minnesota as of Monday.
“Unfortunately, President Trump has attacked our country and attacked our province economically so as of Monday we are putting a 25% export tax, surcharge, whatever you want to call it,” he told Newstalk 1010.
He added that if Trump’s “attack” continued, it would double the tariff to 50%.
Ontario provides electricity to about 1.5 million homes and businesses in New York, Michigan and Minnesota.