He has also given more specific justifications for some countries like Canada and Mexico, including that he is trying to exert pressure on his neighbours to curb illegal shipments of fentanyl into the US.
According to data from the US Customs and Border Patrol, about 0.2% of all seizures of fentanyl coming into the US occur at the border with Canada, with almost all of the rest confiscated at the Mexican border.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney posted that Canada “has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America,” and is “committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries”.
- Donald Trump has raised Canada’s tariff rate from 25% to 35% in a new executive order that comes into effect at midnight
- Hours before a deadline to strike trade deals, the White House also released new levies for dozens of other countries. The rates come into effect in seven days’ time
- Earlier, he paused putting higher tariffs on Mexico for another 90 days
- Trump announced his tariff plan in April, sending chaos rippling through the world economy. But he paused it so countries could negotiate new trade deals
- The UK and the EU are among those who have since made deals with the US – here’s a list of who else has
- The tariffs mean companies that bring foreign goods into the US will have to pay the taxes to the government, and experts say these companies may pass costs on to consumers