Trump imposes tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada

President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will impose tariffs on imported goods from Mexico, Canada and China starting from today.

- ANDREW FEINBERG ARIANA BAIO

Speaking in the Oval Office yesterday, Mr Trump claimed he was imposing the import taxes – which are paid by American companies and passed on to consumers – because US allies Mexico and Canada were “sending massive amounts of fentanyl” into the country that he claimed had originated in China. He also cited trade deficits as a justification for the import tax increases.

“We have big deficits, and it's something we're doing, and we'll possibly very substantially increase it or not. We'll see how it is. But it's a lot of money coming to the United States,” said Mr Trump, who claimed the Canadian government has “treated us very unfairly” while being “subsidized” by the US.

He also justified the import taxes on Mexican goods by blaming that country’s government for “millions of criminals coming into our country, criminals, people from jails, from all over the world”.

“They come through Mexico, and they come through Canada too. A lot of them come through Canada. And a lot of fentanyl comes through Canada. And China makes the fentanyl. You know, China makes the fentanyl, gives it to Mexico, puts it through Canada, puts it through different different places, mostly Mexico, but also a lot through Canada. And so all three haven't treated us very well,” he said.

Mr Trump also said he would be imposing import taxes on oil, gas, steel, aluminum, and copper – all important raw materials – in a move that most experts say would cripple the American economy.