International-News

US, duties on Canada, Mexico and China from 1 February. Trump: ‘I will also hit the EU’

White House confirms entry into force of tariffs. US president announces new measures against Europe

As of 1 February, the US will apply duties of 25% on Canada and Mexico and 10% on China, confirming the Trump administration’s hard line on international trade.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt denied Reuters rumours of a possible postponement to 1 March, calling them ‘false’. The decision, she explained, is motivated by the handling of immigration and the crisis over fentanyl, a synthetic drug that has claimed thousands of lives in the US in recent years.

‘Canada and Mexico have allowed an illegal invasion of migrants and fentanyl,’ said Leavitt, justifying the introduction of the new tariffs. The same reason is behind the tariffs against China.

Tension with Canada, Trump against Europe
The measure has already triggered international reactions. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had promised a strong response to the US duties. Asked about the issue, Leavitt replied: ‘Trudeau would do better to talk directly to Trump before making statements to the media.

But the trade tensions will not stop there. Speaking from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump announced that he would also extend tariffs to the European Union: ‘Europe has treated us very badly. Of course I’m going to do it,’ he stated bluntly, answering the question whether he also intends to hit European products.

An escalation that risks further souring relations between Washington and its historical allies, with possible repercussions on global trade.

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