As of today, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico announced by US President Donald Trump come into effect. Canada responded immediately, while countermeasures were announced by China, which is also facing a 20% tariff increase from the United States on its products.
HDN Newsroom
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday, March 3, that 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico will take effect on Tuesday with reciprocal tariffs starting April 2.
As Donald Trump said, Canada and Mexico "have no more room for manoeuvre" to avoid customs duties. "There is no more room for manoeuvre for Mexico and Canada. Customs duties are a fact. They will take effect tomorrow," he told the White House. He said he would consider signing a free trade agreement with Argentina, calling Latin American President Javier Millay a "great leader."
Retaliation by Canada
U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods pose an "existential threat" to Canada, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said. "We know this poses an existential threat to us and thousands of jobs in Canada are at risk," Jolie said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would apply customs duties on U.S. goods from Tuesday (Tuesday, March 4) in retaliation for those announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying "nothing justifies these measures" on the part of the U.S. government.
"If the U.S. customs duties go into effect, Canada will retaliate from midnight by applying 25 percent customs duties on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods. dollars," the head of the Canadian government explained.
These tariffs "will remain in place" as long as the U.S. tariffs are applied, and if Washington does not suspend them, "we are discussing (...) with Canada's provinces and territories to adopt other "non-tariff" measures, Trudeau added.
Mexico's reaction
Upon hearing of the U.S. tariffs, Mexico's president said she would wait to see if U.S. President Donald Trump finally carried out his threat to impose tariffs on his southern neighbor, adding that her country had an alternative plan if the tariffs came into effect. President Claudia Seinbaum said she would address those decisions on Tuesday, but added that whatever the U.S. decision, Mexico was ready.
Countermeasures by China
Beijing said it would take "countermeasures" after the US president announced that customs duties on Chinese goods imported into the United States would rise to 20%.
"China is deeply unhappy about this measure and strongly opposes it. It will take countermeasures to protect its rights and interests," a spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
Beijing had already made clear it would retaliate against President Trump's tariffs, who signed an executive order on Monday that now imposes an additional 20 percent customs duties on Chinese goods entering the United States.
Trump's announcement
President Trump alerted U.S. farmers to impending U.S. tariffs on "foreign products," telling them to prepare to sell their produce domestically. "To the great farmers of the USA: Get ready to start making many farm products that will be sold WITHIN the US. The tariffs will apply to foreign goods on April 2. Have much fun!" tweeted President Trump on his online platform Truth Social.
