Trump vows March 4 tariffs for Mexico, Canada,

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his suggested 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada will be implemented on Tuesday, accompanied by an additional 10% duty on imports from China, as lethal drugs continue to flood into the U.S. from these nations.

The new tariffs on China, along with the 10% tariff imposed on February 4, align with the commencement of China’s yearly parliamentary sessions on Wednesday, a significant political occasion where Beijing is anticipated to announce its key economic goals for 2025.

The statement also allows Beijing under a week to issue counteractions, as the Trump administration indicates a tougher position against its strategic competitor even though it retreated from the 60% tariff threat when Trump assumed office.

Trump informed reporters in the Oval Office that he opted to impose additional tariffs on China and adhere to the Tuesday deadline for Canada and Mexico, citing what his administration views as inadequate advancements in reducing fentanyl imports into the nation. On Thursday, Mexico extradited almost 30 prisoners to the U.S., including drug kingpin Rafael Caro Quintero, who was found guilty in 1985 of killing a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2023, 72,776 individuals in the U.S. died due to synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. In January 2025, Customs and Border Patrol agents confiscated 991 pounds of fentanyl at the southwest border, a decrease of 50.5% from the previous year, yet still sufficient to cause the deaths of millions of Americans, according to a White House official.

Trump’s choice to increase tariffs on Chinese products reflects his actions to raise tariffs during his initial trade conflicts with Beijing until significant trade discussions occurred between the world’s two biggest economies. As trade negotiations have yet to materialize, there are indications that Trump is gearing up for a broader economic separation from China, undermining expectations that an agreement could be achieved soon.