Trump Tariffs — Retribution Over Negotiation

The Trump administration released a statement Feb.1 announcing 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and 10% tariffs on China, with slightly lower 10% tariffs on Canadian energy, according to The White House. 

President Donald Trump promised tariffs against these nations throughout his campaign in an effort to protect American businesses, as well as pressure nations to adopt policies aligning with Trump’s “America First Priorities.”

Tariffs, though, should be set with careful deliberation that considers the effects they could have on the people and economies of the U.S. and the targeted nations. Mexico, Canada and China are America’s top 3 trading partners, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Massive, non-targeted tariffs on these countries could have grave consequences for Americans and our international neighbors. 

The reasoning for Trump’s tariffs is based on falsehoods, claiming to be an arbitrary show of strength rather than serious economic measures aimed at bettering people’s lives. 

Trump’s campaign focused heavily on illegal immigration and drug-trafficking, which were both credited as reasons for the tariffs, according to the White House. 

The statement also claimed Mexico, Canada and China were each partially responsible for America’s opioid crisis, accusing Canada and Mexico of failing to curb drug-trafficking and China of distributing “precursor-chemicals” to fentanyl producers. 

There is a drug trafficking problem in the U.S., but The White House’s statement included outlandish claims meant to enrage Americans and fuel xenophobic sentiment in order to foster support for tariffs — despite the resulting price increases bringing harm to average Americans.

In the tariff statement, The White House accused the Mexican government of being allied with drug cartels and criminal gangs — alleging complicity in the movement of dangerous drugs across the U.S. border. These claims are false, as corruption in the Mexican government can’t be equated to an alliance with cartels, according to The Guardian. 

The White House also claimed “there is also a growing presence of Mexican cartels operating fentanyl and nitazene synthesis labs in Canada.” 

Though these labs exist, Canadian police have dismantled 47 fentanyl labs in the last six years, according to The New York Times. Canada already recognizes fentanyl as a problem and has been active in addressing the presence of fentanyl labs, according to The Canadian Government’s website. 

Less than 1% of fentanyl coming into the U.S. enters through the Canadian border. Last year, 21,000 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the U.S.-Mexico border, while only 43 pounds were seized at the Canadian border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Feb. 3 Canada will follow through on the $900 million border security packages developed under the Biden administration, The Associated Press reported. 

Although Canada isn’t heavily contributing to drug problems in the U.S., the country will still have to implement costly measures on top of their previous commitment to fix a problem that doesn’t exist in order to appease Trump. 

This includes an additional $200 million to combat organized crime and fentanyl, the appointment of a “fentanyl czar” and an agreement to list Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

Trump’s creation of falsehoods to justify tariffs and boost xenophobic sentiment in the U.S. has already fostered anti-American sentiment abroad. 

Trudeau encouraged Canadians to start buying domestic products on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Canadian fans at a Toronto Raptors NBA game Feb. 2 booed when the American national anthem started playing,The AP reported.

The negative sentiment toward the U.S. in Canada shouldn’t be a surprise when Trump is wielding economic might to push around a nation that’s been a long-term ally. Many Canadians are worried about their own livelihood because tariffs could wreak havoc on many Canadian industries dependent on U.S. trade, according to The New York Times.

This feeling is shared in Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the tariffs on X Feb. 2, condemning The White House for accusing the Mexican Government of having alliances with gangs.

“If such an alliance exists anywhere, it is in the United States armories that sell high-powered weapons to these criminal groups,” Sheinbaum wrote.

Continuing to attack allies with egregious economic policies not only jeopardizes long-held international alliances, but it also diminishes U.S. influence in both North America and across the world.

The Trump administration’s justification for implementing tariffs on China was that Chinese officials have failed to stop the flow of chemicals used in the production of fentanyl and shut down criminal money laundering organizations, according to the White House statement.

Regulations on China implemented by the Biden Administration were already reducing the flow of these chemicals and the production of fentanyl, according to NPR.

China responded by announcing a 15% tariff on American coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars, which will take effect Feb. 10, The AP reported.

Trump’s actions were an unneeded show of power which could have dire domestic consequences because of China’s importance to the American economy.

Though tariffs on China have taken effect, both Canada and Mexico have taken actions to delay U.S. tariffs by 30 days, according to the BBC, though Trump announced new 25% tariffs on steel imports and raised aluminum tariffs to 25% Feb. 10, according to The White House. 

Trump also used the threat of tariffs recently when Colombia refused to accept deported Colombians being transported on military planes. Colombia threatened retaliatory tariffs and Trump backed down, dropping both the tariff threat and the insistence deportations be handled with U.S. military aircraft, The AP reported.

Unfortunately, threats like these may become a staple of the Trump administration’s foreign policy going forward, creating even more turbulence in an already unstable world.

The uncertainty of the tariffs’ impact on the American economy has also created a difficult situation on Wall Street, where investors are unsure how much products will cost in the coming months. 

Feb. 3 saw markets fall after Trump’s announcement — especially hurting big tech companies — though markets recovered after the tariffs on Canada and Mexico were paused, The AP reported.

Not only would Americans likely be hit with higher prices if tariffs are put in place, but so will millions of people around the world. Many countries are dependent on U.S. trade and harsh tariffs could spell economic struggle and increase humanitarian suffering — all because Trump’s administration wants to establish itself as a fast-acting strongman.

For now, tariffs on Canada and Mexico have been paused, and Trump has declared victory — though there’s still uncertainty as the threat of tariffs linger. The U.S. wields immense economic power, and with that power comes the responsibility to protect people around the world — a responsibility that’s being ignored by the Trump administration.