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Trump’s latest on tariffs: announces them for EU and deals with Mexico and Canada

Tariffs, migrants and drugs: the US president announces tougher measures and deals with Canada and Mexico as he announces tougher measures against Europe

US President Donald Trump has declared that new trade tariffs will soon be introduced against the European Union. The announcement, made via a post on the Truth Social platform, follows the US administration’s recent decisions to tighten tariffs against several trading partners. Trump’s stated aim is to rebalance economic relations, which he says are currently unfavourable to the US.

Dialogue with Canada: confrontation with Trudeau

Trump reportedly held talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and plans to have another conversation in the coming hours. The president pointed the finger at Canada’s restrictions on US banks, accusing the Ottawa government of not allowing them to operate freely in the country. In addition to the economic aspects, Trump linked the duty issue to the fight against drug trafficking, denouncing the role of the Mexican and Canadian borders in the entry of lethal drugs into the US.

Agreement with Mexico: temporary halt to duties

Meanwhile, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Trump had agreed to suspend the application of the new tariffs for one month. During her press conference, Sheinbaum emphasised that the understanding with Washington was reached with respect for national sovereignty and includes mutual commitments. In particular, Mexico will deploy 10,000 National Guard agents along the border to tighten controls and counter the trafficking of fentanyl, a major cause of overdoses in the US.

The US administration, for its part, promised more efforts to reduce arms trafficking to Mexican drug cartels. Trump confirmed the agreement, specifying that the deployment of Mexican forces at the border was a precondition for temporarily suspending the new tariffs. During the pause, the two nations, together with members of the US administration including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, will seek a final compromise.

Trump and the possible implementation of the Alien Enemies Act

Parallel to trade issues, Trump is considering the application of the Alien Enemies Act, a law dating back to 1798, to proceed with swift deportations of immigrants accused of being members of criminal gangs. This measure, originally designed for times of war and tensions with foreign powers, would allow the administration to deport individuals considered a threat to national security without going through the normal judicial process.

The Alien Enemies Act has historically been used in times of conflict, such as the War of 1812 against Great Britain and the two World Wars. During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt employed it to justify the forced detention of citizens of Japanese, German and Italian origin. Woodrow Wilson and Harry Truman also resorted to this law at different times in history to restrict the freedoms of individuals deemed potentially hostile to American interests.

Trump’s announcement of new tariffs opens a new chapter in international trade relations, with potential repercussions for the global economy. Negotiations with Mexico and Canada could prove decisive in avoiding an escalation, while the possibility of recourse to the Alien Enemies Act signals a possible tightening of migration policy.

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