U.S. President Donald Trump says proposed tariffs “will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled” referring to a previously promised Mar. 4 deadline, citing the importation of fentanyl as the reason.
Despite promising another tariff reprieve of just over one month in his first White House cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump has since said in a post to Truth Social on Thursday that tariffs scheduled for “MARCH FOURTH” will be implemented as originally promised.
However, what tariffs his latest comments are referring to, remains somewhat confusing.
Trump had initially pledged an across-the-board 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian trade, with a 10 per cent tariff on energy back in January but during Wednesday’s cabinet meeting he said the date would be April 2.
He said he wanted it to be April 1 but that he is a “little superstitious.”
Upon the confusion among the press, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stepped in to say that this latest reprieve was “fentanyl-related.”
“If they (Canada) can prove to the president that they’ve done an excellent job, that’s what they first do in 30 days, but then the overall is April 2. So the big transaction is April 2 but the fentanyl-related things…they’re working hard on the border,” said Lutnick.
“At the end of that 30 days they have to prove to the president that they’ve satisfied him to that regard. If they have, he’s going to give them a pause, or he won’t. That’s up to him.”
Trump swiftly responded by saying, “it’s going to be hard to satisfy.”
Based on Wednesday’s announcement, Lutnick made it sound as if Canada was being granted another 30-day reprieve, which could then potentially even be further extended on April 2 should Canada continue its action on fentanyl and the border.
However, Trump’s comments from Thursday seemed to reverse that, pledging that tariffs are back on Tuesday with little in the way of specifics beyond the date.
“Drugs are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels. A large percentage of these Drugs, much of them in the form of Fentanyl, are made in, and supplied by, China. More than 100,000 people died last year due to the distribution of these dangerous and highly addictive POISONS. Millions of people have died over the last two decades. The families of the victims are devastated and, in many instances, virtually destroyed,” reads Trump’s post to Truth Social Thursday.
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled. China will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date. The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect. Thank you for your attention to this matter. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
The U.S. president had initially vowed to enforce tariffs on his first day in office, which would have been Jan. 1.
Upon taking office he subsequently moved the tariff date to Feb 1, then Feb. 4, before extending it in the eleventh hour by 30 days.