U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on February 24 that the tariffs he proposed on Canadian and Mexican imports are proceeding as scheduled.
After taking office, Trump announced up to 25% duties on imports from both countries, citing concerns over illegal immigration and the influx of fentanyl. However, he had previously paused the implementation of the tariffs for one month to allow for ongoing discussions.
With the pause ending next Tuesday, attention is focused on whether Canada and Mexico can strike deals to prevent the tariffs from being imposed, which would disrupt supply chains, particularly in sectors like automobile manufacturing.
“The tariffs are going forward on time, on schedule,” Trump stated during a press conference on February 24.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed hope earlier on the same day, stating that negotiations with the U.S. would continue this week in an effort to avert the tariffs.
Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, telling reporters that “the threat of tariffs is a real one, and may continue for a while.”
