Following the announcement by US President Donald Trump of the imposition of new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, the leaders of the affected countries reacted quickly to present their response to the measures.

On the morning of February 3, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that after a conversation with President Trump, an agreement was reached to postpone for one month the application of the 25% tariff on all Mexican exports with the commitment that Mexico will reinforce the northern border with 10.000 National Guard soldiers immediately. Additionally, both countries will work together on security and trade, with the goal of stopping drug and arms trafficking, particularly fentanyl, from Mexico to the United States.

During a press conference in Mexico, President Sheinbaum highlighted the importance of high-level dialogue for conflict resolution, reaffirmed her commitment to preserving the trade agreement with the United States and Canada, and underlined the relevance of the new “Plan Mexico” to strengthen national production and foster sustainable economic growth.

It is important to mention that U.S. exports to Mexico accounted for more than $322.000 billion in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, while the U.S. imported Mexican products worth more than $475.000 billion.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the imposition of “far-reaching” 25% tariffs on US products worth a total of 155.000 billion Canadian dollars (106.600 billion US dollars). These tariffs cover a wide range of goods, from beer and wine to household appliances, sporting goods, clothing and furniture.

As part of the measure, Trudeau said tariffs worth C$30.000 billion would take effect immediately, while the remaining C$125.000 billion would be applied within 21 days, allowing Canadian companies to adapt to the new rules. The affected products include food such as fruits, vegetables and juices, as well as everyday items such as perfumes, shoes and bourbon.

This response reflects the close interdependence of the economies of Canada, Mexico and the United States, where an estimated $2.000 billion worth of manufactured goods cross the borders every day. In addition to being a key trading partner, Canada is the largest foreign supplier of crude oil to the United States. According to recent official data, between January and November 2024, 61% of the oil imported by the United States came from Canada.

Finally, China’s Foreign Ministry called these tariffs unnecessary to solve US problems and warned that they affected economic and trade cooperation between the countries. In addition, China filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, accusing the US of violating international trade rules with this “unilateral imposition of tariffs.”

Filing a WTO complaint could give China leverage in its defense of the international rules-based trading system that has been championed by U.S. administrations of both parties. China has adopted a similar strategy in challenging at the World Trade Organization tariffs of up to 45 percent imposed by the European Union on electric vehicles.

According to the statement “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico, and China”, published on the official White House website on February 2025, XNUMX, access to the US market is a privilege. The document also highlights that tariffs are a powerful and effective tool to protect the national interest. In this regard, it points out that President Trump is making use of available resources and taking decisive measures that prioritize national security.

Sources:

• Sheinbaum, after talking with Trump, says tariffs delayed for one month
• Canada imposes 25% tariffs in trade war with US
• List of products from the United States subject to 25 per cent tariffs effective February 4, 2025
• Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China
• How have Canada, China and Mexico responded to Trump's tariffs?