GUWAHATI, Feb 2: American President Donald Trump on Saturday imposed tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China following what The White House said was “extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs”.
“President Trump is taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country,” The White House stated in a statement.
Trump signed three separate executive orders on the tariffs, risking a new trade war, while also inviting retaliatory measures from Ottawa and Mexico City.
“We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all. I made a promise on my campaign to stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs from pouring across our borders, and Americans overwhelmingly voted in favor of it,” President Trump posted on social media.
While 25 per cent tariffs were imposed on Canadian and Mexican imports, 10 per cent tariff was imposed on goods imported from China, The White House statement stated.
“Energy resources from Canada will have a lower 10% tariff,” the statement further added.
President Trump had been on the offensive ever since taking oath as US President for the second time as he had issued a warning to BRICS nations, threatening 100 per cent tariffs on their exports, if they made any attempt to replace the US dollar as the dominant currency in international trade.
