President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that new tariffs on Mexico and Canada would go into effect April 2, almost a month later than anticipated, but White House officials later walked it back, insisting the March 4 date still holds.
Trump repeatedly stressed to reporters in the Cabinet Room at his first cabinet meeting of the new administration that the tariffs would go into effect April 2. On that date, he said, “the tariffs go on – not all of them, but a lot of them.”
A White House official told Agri-Pulse, however, that next Tuesday remains the deadline for triggering the new duties.
"I think a lot of things got muddled in there," the official said. "Those tariffs are still kicking in on March 4." The official said that the president is still reviewing progress made by Canada and Mexico to tighten border security.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has previously said the administration's separate reciprocal tariff plans could be ready for imposition by April 2. Asked if the president had confused the start date for the two plans, the White House official said, "I'm not sure if he was confused or ... the question was just unclear."
Trump had previously stated that 25% tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian exports, with a reduced 10% rate applied to Canadian energy products, would go into effect next week. The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum negotiated a 30-day delay earlier this month.
Lutnick told reporters that Mexico and Canada would still have to satisfy the president to secure any additional delay.
"It's going to be hard to satisfy," Trump added.
The president has argued that tariffs are needed to spur action from the U.S.’ North American neighbors to stem the flow of illegal migrants and fentanyl into the country. Illegal border crossings have fallen substantially since last year, Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks told CBS last week.
Trump told reporters Wednesday that the fall “was mostly due to us,” however. “Millions of people have died because of the fentanyl that comes over the border,” Trump said. “The damage has been done.”
A group of Mexican officials from the country’s economy and finance ministries have been in Washington this week. Sheinbaum said on Monday that she was optimistic about reaching a deal to avoid the sweeping duties.
During the gaggle with reporters after the cabinet meeting, Trump also previewed forthcoming 25% duties on the European Union. The president said that the tariffs would apply to “cars and all other things,” and would be in place “very soon.”
Trump downplayed concerns of retaliation from Europe and others – including China, which was hit by a new 10% tariff duty earlier this month.
“They can try,” he said, but “we are the pot of gold. We’re the one that everybody wants.”
Elon Musk also attended the cabinet meeting, as did Jamieson Greer, Trump’s pick for U.S. trade representative. Greer was confirmed by the Senate in a 56-43 vote after the cabinet meeting.
During his hearing, Greer defended Trump’s trade agenda and pledged to work to open new markets for U.S. agriculture.
“Unlike his predecessor, I am confident that Mr. Greer will pursue an aggressive trade strategy that includes opening access to new markets through new trade deals,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
“As my colleagues know, I’m a free and fair trader, and though I would not like to see extreme tariffs, I am hopeful that Mr. Greer and President Trump will bring us to freer and more fair trade,” Grassley added.
Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., however, spoke in opposition to Greer’s nomination ahead of the floor vote on Wednesday.
“I’ve held four town halls in Oregon this year and talked with a lot of small businesses and farmers across my state. I’m hearing one message over and over again – they are already losing sales and losing markets to Trump’s bluster,” Wyden said. He also cited his ongoing concerns that Greer would not have a prominent voice on trade in an administration packed with trade policy enthusiasts like adviser Peter Navarro, Lutnick and Trump himself.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Greer did little in his confirmation process to build confidence that the buck will stop him on trade,” Wyden said.
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