The tension that Mexico, Canada and China live, waiting for Donald Trump’s tariffs

The US president, Donald Trump, plans to sign a series of decrees that light the fuse of a commercial war with Mexico, China and Canada, whose government was informed that the taxes will be imposed in the next few days.

Washington informed Ottawa that from Tuesday he will impose 25% tariffs on Canadian products that enter into their territory, a government source assured the AFP.

Also read: United States reinstates the restricted list of Cuba: What limitations does it impose?

The official, who is not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, confirmed that energy exports will be subject to a lower rate, of 10%.

Trump has announced that he intends to impose a similar tax of 25% to Mexico, considering that their neighbors do not act firmly against fentanyl traffic, a synthetic opioid that wreaks havoc in the country, nor against irregular immigration.

The Mexican Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, reported that President Claudia Sheinbaum met this Saturday with businessmen “against any commercial or other arbitrariness” that may appear “in the next few hours.”

In the event, Sheinbaum said he maintained the “cold head” and having “patience”, although he did not explicitly refer to tariffs. “I have no concern because Mexico’s economy is very strong, very solid,” he said.

Also read: Marco Rubio will make his first tour of Central America: in the sight deportations and channel of Panama

The tariffs, which the tycoon states that they are one of his favorite words, have become a White House weapon since the beginning of his second term.

Trump is this Saturday at his Mar-A-Lago residence, in the state of Florida (southeast), to spend the weekend. In the morning, he went to his golf course with nothing scheduled on his official agenda.

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has a press conference to the 00h00 GMT, told the AFP two Canadian government sources.

“Large deficits”

Trump has also affirmed that China, the second largest economy in the world, allows us to export the active ingredients of fentanil to countries such as Mexico where, according to Washington, drug trafficking cartels manufacture the opioid that reaches US territory.

The United States has “large deficits” with the three white countries of the possible measures, it has remarked. But imposing generalized tariffs entails risks for Trump, who won the November elections thanks, in part, to the discontent of public opinion with prices.

Also read: Gustavo Petro says that he will pick up for US deportees.

On Friday, Trump advanced that some taxes can come into force around “to February 18”.

Photo: Rorozoa

It plans to “impose tariffs on microchips (…), oil and gas” and “many” steel levies. And in the future the pharmaceutical products and copper will not be saved.

He had already said, however, that he considers “limiting them to 10%” on Canadian oil, which represents 60% of American imports in that sector.

A rise in import taxes would probably “discourage consumer spending and business investment,” says Gregory Daco, head economist of EY.

Daco estimates that inflation will increase 0.7 percentage points in the first quarter of this year due to tariffs, before gradually decreasing.

“The increase in uncertainty in commercial policy will increase the volatility of the financial market and press the private sector, despite the pro -business rhetoric of the administration,” he explained.

Also read: Donald Trump declares the commercial war to Mexico, Canada and China: What actions will take?

However, magnate supporters do not fear inflation. Some even bet that Trump’s intention to lower taxes and deregulate could help boost economic growth.

Plan A, B y C

Democrats criticize Trump’s plans.

“I worry that these new tariffs increase even more costs for US consumers,” said the leader of the Senate minority, Chuck Schumer on Friday.

Mexico and Canada have tried to stop the coup, but at the same time prepared measures to counterattack if necessary.

EYEPIX/NurPhoto via AFP

“We have plan A, Plan B, Plan C,” said Sheinbaum this week, while Trudeau promised “an immediate response.”

Mexico and Canada are theoretically protected by the Free Trade Agreement T-MEC signed during the first mandate of the Republican and must be renegotiated in 2026.

So that both countries and affected companies could take legal actions by virtue of the difference solution procedures provided for in that treaty.