U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday during his first Cabinet meeting that the recent decline in illegal border crossings would not deter him from imposing 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada, CNN reported.
“We’ve lost millions of people due to fentanyl. It comes mostly from China, but it comes through Mexico, and it comes through Canada,” Trump said. “I have to tell you that on April 2nd, the tariffs go on… and I think you’re going to see something that’s going to be amazing.”
The announcement follows a temporary 30-day pause on the tariffs, which Trump linked to illegal border crossings and fentanyl trafficking. That pause is set to expire on March 4. However, Trump made it clear that the tariffs would officially take effect on April 2, aligning with the deadline for his administration’s decision on retaliatory tariffs against other countries, according to CNN.
“April 2nd for everything,” Trump responded when a reporter sought clarification on when the tariffs targeting Mexico and Canada would be implemented, CNN reported.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick further explained that the administration was still assessing the fentanyl-related pause. “We have the fentanyl-related pause,” Lutnick said. “They have to prove to the president that they’ve satisfied him to that regard. If they have, he’ll give them a pause.”
For decades, automakers have operated under free-trade agreements that treat North America as a single market, allowing seamless movement of parts and vehicles across borders. So far, no automaker has canceled plans for manufacturing plants in Canada or Mexico due to the tariff threat. However, Tesla, led by Trump ally Elon Musk, has not proceeded with its previously announced plans for a plant in Mexico, CNN reported.
