The governments of Canada and Mexico have announced agreements with the U.S. to avoid the 25 per cent tariffs imposed on imports from the two countries over President Donald Trump’s claims that they are not doing enough to prevent the large influx of drugs and illegal immigration into the U.S.
Mr Trump had a few days ago announced a 25 per cent tariff penalty on goods coming into the United States market from Mexico and Canada as well as an additional 10 per cent tariff on imports from China, the decision which the three countries swiftly condemned and subsequently imposed their own retaliatory measures.
However, with the implementation of the newly imposed tariffs set to effect on Tuesday, Canadian President Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have announced that they have reached agreements with the Trump administration to pause the move by a month.
In a statement on Monday evening, Mr Trudeau said he had a call with Mr Trump where he promised that Canada would commit $1.3 billion to reinforce its border security as well as deployment of more than 10,000 personnel to Canada’s border with the United States to prevent the flow of fentanyl and undocumented immigrants.
“I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border,” he said.
Mr Trudeau added, “Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organised crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million.”
Ms Sheinbaum also made similar commitments following a ‘good’ conversation with Mr Trump. She noted that Mexico will immediately deploy 10,000 members of the country’s National Guard alongside its border with the United States to prevent drug trafficking.
“Mexico will immediately reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, particularly fentanyl,” Ms Sheinbaum said in a statement on X. “Our teams will begin working today on two fronts: security and trade.”
