U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the tariffs imposed on Canada last Saturday will be suspended for a 30-day period. This pause aims to evaluate the potential for a final economic agreement with Canada.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, \"Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like fentanyl.\" This move comes as part of broader efforts to address border security and the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed the sentiment on X, formerly known as Twitter, mentioning that he had a productive conversation with Trump. He emphasized that the proposed tariffs would be on hold for at least a month while both nations work collaboratively.
Trudeau outlined Canada's commitment by detailing a $1.3 billion border plan. The plan includes reinforcing the border with new helicopters, advanced technology, and additional personnel. Enhanced coordination with American partners and increased resources are also part of the strategy to curb the influx of fentanyl. Trudeau highlighted that nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are dedicated to protecting the border.
Further commitments from Canada include appointing a fentanyl czar, designating cartels as terrorist organizations, ensuring 24/7 surveillance at the border, and launching a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl trafficking, and money laundering. Trudeau also announced a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, supported by a $200 million investment.
Trump expressed satisfaction with the initial outcomes, stating that the tariffs would remain paused for 30 days to facilitate ongoing negotiations.
The original tariff orders announced by Trump included a 25 percent increase on imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as a 10-percent hike on imports from China. These orders faced widespread opposition and immediate retaliatory measures.
The Canadian response included imposing a 25 percent tariff on $155 billion worth of American goods, equivalent to approximately 155 billion Canadian dollars.
Earlier on Monday, Trump also mentioned a positive discussion with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Both leaders agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for one month to continue their negotiations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
