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Stock markets sink as Trump confirms tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
President Donald Trump is moving forward with 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico into the US, saying that time had run out to reach a deal. | |
US stock markets sank in response to the measures, which have been threatened since earlier this year and are due to go into effect on Tuesday. | |
An additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports is also expected to come into force, leaving all three of America's top three trade partners facing significantly higher trade barriers than just a few weeks ago. | |
"No room left for Mexico or for Canada," Trump said at the White House on Monday. "The tariffs, you know, they're all set. They go into effect tomorrow." | "No room left for Mexico or for Canada," Trump said at the White House on Monday. "The tariffs, you know, they're all set. They go into effect tomorrow." |
Trump threatened to impose the tariffs - which is a tax that is added to a product when it enters a country - on Canada, Mexico and China in response to what he says is the unacceptable flow of illegal drugs and undocumented migrants into the US. | |
He had already imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese exports to the US last month, meaning goods from the country now face a levy of at least 20%. | |
All three countries have said they will retaliate against the US in response to the tariffs, raising the prospect of a widening trade war. | |
Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said the tariffs are "an existential threat to us" with "thousands of jobs in Canada at stake". | |
She said Canadian officials have had "constructive conversations" with the Trump administration to try to avert the 25% levies but warned "we are ready with counter tariffs". | |
Trump has long maintained that tariffs are a useful tool to correct trade imbalances and protect US manufacturing. | Trump has long maintained that tariffs are a useful tool to correct trade imbalances and protect US manufacturing. |
He has largely dismissed concerns that the measures risk economic damage in the US, despite the close ties, especially in North America, where businesses have enjoyed decades of free trade. | |
"What they'll have to do is build their car plants, frankly, and other things, in the United States, in which case they have no tariffs," he added. | |
The three major indexes in the US sank after Trump's comments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day down 1.4%, the S&P 500 sank 1.75% and the Nasdaq fell 2.6%. | |
Watch: Trump supporters on president's 51st state jibe | |
Officials from Canada and Mexico had been in Washington in recent days, trying to avoid the tariffs. | |
Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, appeared to send a message to Trump earlier on Monday when she said at a public event in the city of Colima that "Mexico has to be respected". | |
"Co-operation [and] co-ordination, yes, subordination, never." | |
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday, from a summit on Ukraine in London, that Canada was "not an issue" as a source of illegal fentanyl in the US. | |
Only 1% of fentanyl seized in the US is thought to come from Canada, according to US data. | |
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it has been "surging" its efforts to tackle fentanyl crossing into the US. | |
Canada has repeatedly said tariffs will harm both economies but added that it will defend itself if they happen. | Canada has repeatedly said tariffs will harm both economies but added that it will defend itself if they happen. |
Last month, it prepared a list of $30bn (£23.6bn) worth of American goods it said it would levy in response to US tariffs. Items on that list included everyday goods like pasta, clothing and perfume. | |
Canadian Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand met officials in Washington in recent days and said over the weekend there will be a response. | Canadian Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand met officials in Washington in recent days and said over the weekend there will be a response. |
"We are steady at the wheel. We are prepared for any eventuality, but we will at every turn defend our country's economy," she told CBC News. | "We are steady at the wheel. We are prepared for any eventuality, but we will at every turn defend our country's economy," she told CBC News. |
How does fentanyl get into the US? | |
What are tariffs and why is Trump using them? | |
How Japan sparked Trump's 40-year love affair with tariffs | |
Watch: Canada plans 'strong' response if Trump imposes tariffs, says Trudeau | Watch: Canada plans 'strong' response if Trump imposes tariffs, says Trudeau |
China's state-run Global Times newspaper said that Beijing had prepared countermeasures, which would probably target US agricultural and food products. | |
President Trump has also announced a 25% charge on all steel and aluminium imports, which is meant to come into effect on 12 March. | President Trump has also announced a 25% charge on all steel and aluminium imports, which is meant to come into effect on 12 March. |
In addition, he has threatened to impose custom "reciprocal" tariffs on individual countries, as well as 25% tariffs on the European Union. | In addition, he has threatened to impose custom "reciprocal" tariffs on individual countries, as well as 25% tariffs on the European Union. |