U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order to raise tariffs, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick by his side, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on February 13, 2025. REUTERS
The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, has urged Canada to follow Mexico in matching American tariffs on Chinese goods. This comes as Canada and Mexico try to avoid the heavy 25% U.S. tariffs set to take effect on Tuesday due to fentanyl trafficking concerns.
US Seeks Unified Tariff Action
Canadian and Mexican officials have been meeting with U.S. leaders in Washington. They want to show that they are taking strong steps to secure their borders and stop the flow of fentanyl. Speaking on Bloomberg TV, Bessent confirmed that Mexico has agreed to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, but he did not clarify the exact rate.
Trump had already announced a 10% tariff on Chinese imports in early February. However, on Thursday, he declared that the rate would increase to 20% starting Tuesday. Bessent suggested that Canada should also impose similar tariffs. He said, “It would be a nice gesture if the Canadians did it also—so we could have a fortress North America.”
China's Response
China’s embassy in Washington criticized Trump’s tariff hikes. It claimed that these unilateral measures violate World Trade Organization rules and harm both countries. Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu stated, “Pressuring, coercion, and threat is not the right way to deal with China.”
So far, Canadian and Mexican officials have not responded to Bessent’s comments.
Canada’s Efforts in Washington
Canada’s Public Safety Minister, David McGuinty, completed a four-day visit to Washington. He assured U.S. leaders that Canada is making serious efforts to secure its borders.
“We’ve made major changes, investments, and improvements,” McGuinty said. He met with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan to present Canada’s progress.
Meanwhile, Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard held discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. He described the meeting as "cordial" but did not share any details regarding the tariff deadline.
Fentanyl Crackdown and Extraditions
Trump justified the upcoming tariffs by citing the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. Last year, nearly 73,000 people died from fentanyl overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To show cooperation, Mexico carried out its largest drug-related extradition in a decade. Among those extradited was Rafael Caro Quintero, a former cartel leader convicted of murdering a U.S. drug agent. Caro Quintero, now 72, pleaded not guilty to U.S. drug charges that could lead to his execution.
Other suspects extradited included younger cartel leaders accused of trafficking fentanyl into the U.S.
Trade Measures and Tariff Deadline
Mexican officials are considering new trade actions beyond the tariffs already placed on some Chinese imports. Meanwhile, the U.S. has taken steps to stop fentanyl shipments by suspending duty-free exemptions for low-value packages. However, customs officials paused the suspension due to a backlog of shipments.
The tariff deadline falls just before China’s annual parliamentary meetings on Wednesday. This event is crucial for Beijing, as leaders will outline their economic priorities for 2025. Trump’s latest tariff hike gives China less than a week to respond with countermeasures.
