U.S. warns Canada and Mexico: Stop fentanyl trafficking or face tariffs
The U.S. government has stated that Canada and Mexico could still avoid hefty tariffs if they take action to curb fentanyl trafficking at their borders while also committing to slowing China’s advancements in artificial intelligence.
Howard Lutnick, whom Donald Trump has chosen to lead the Department of Commerce, said the president’s proposed 25% tariff is a direct response to what he calls the lax enforcement by Canadian and Mexican authorities in stopping fentanyl from entering the United States.
"So this is a separate tariff to create action from Mexico and action from Canada. And as far as I know, they are acting swiftly, and if they execute it, there will be no tariff," he said regarding the potential trade penalties.
Howard Lutnick has also repeatedly called for the restoration of "reciprocity" in trade, aligning with Donald Trump’s plan to impose a 10% tariff on all goods exported to the U.S.
"We are treated horribly by the global trading environment. They all have higher tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers, and subsidies. They treat us poorly. We need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect, and we can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness, and respect," he explained.
(QG - The Guardian / Picture: © Unsplash)