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Trump Suspends Tariffs For Canada, Mexico, Excludes China

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President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended the implementation of a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico for 30 days, easing tensions and averting what could have escalated into a serious trade dispute among the North American partners.

Under pressure from last-minute negotiations with President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to step up border security efforts with the U.S., focusing on reducing illegal crossings and preventing the influx of fentanyl into North America.

Prior to his talks with Trudeau, President Trump struck a deal with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, under which Mexico would deploy additional troops to its northern border. In exchange, the U.S. pledged to take steps to curb the smuggling of firearms into Mexico.

With the deadline passing at 12:01 a.m. EST (5:00 a.m. GMT) on Tuesday, the U.S. officially imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports. In a prompt countermeasure, Beijing announced tariffs of its own, levying 15% on coal and liquefied natural gas and 10% on crude oil and agricultural machinery.

Earlier, Trump announced plans to hold a phone call with his Chinese counterpart, signaling potential negotiations. He characterized the 10% tariffs as merely the “opening salvo” and warned that they could escalate significantly if a trade deal remains elusive.

Monday’s breakthrough with Canada and Mexico came as they prepared retaliatory tariffs on American goods.

After two phone calls on Monday, Trump and Trudeau posted on social media that they had reached a temporary agreement on securing the border that would avoid tariffs for at lLeast 30 days.

Read also: Donald Trump Takes Oath Of Office As 47th US President

Both leaders portrayed the plan as a win.

“As president, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome,” Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social.

Trudeau said Canada was implementing a $1.3bn (£1bn) border plan that included nearly 10,000 frontline workers and more resources to halt the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic drug 50 times stronger than heroin, which Trump has cited as a major concern.

The prime minister also said Canada would appoint a “fentanyl czar” and launch a joint strike force with the US to combat crime, fentanyl and money laundering.

Much of the border security plan had already been announced by Canada in December.

It includes enhanced co-ordination with US law enforcement, increased information sharing, limiting traffic at the border, and the deployment of drones and Black Hawk helicopters for surveillance.

The news came just hours after Trump paused a separate tariff on Mexican goods in exchange for that country sending 10,000 National Guard troops to its border with the US.

The Eastern Updates

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