US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would temporarily give up the prices on Mexico products that would fall under the North American free trade agreement, two days after the launch of a continental trade war.
The announcement did not mention Canada, which also faces radical rates, despite Trump’s trade secretary, said the two countries would “probably” a stay. He came shortly after Trump leveled new attacks on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following a stormy exchange on Wednesday.
“After talking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay prices on all that relates to the USMCA agreement,” wrote Trump on Trum Social after a planned call between the two leaders.
“This agreement is until April 2. I did it as accommodation and out of respect for President Sheinbaum. »»
The post cited the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement that Trump negotiated with the two countries during his first mandate in 2018, which is called CUSMA in Canada.
Most of the products exchanged between Mexico, Canada and the United States are the rules of CUSMA.
Sheinbaum thanked Trump for his announcement in a post on X.
“We had an excellent call and respectful in which we agreed that our work and our collaboration have given unprecedented results, in the context of respect for our sovereigns,” said Sheinbaum.
Trump said that he and Sheinbaum “worked, hard, together” on border security problems, including fentanyl, which Trump frequently quoted for 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada which came into force on Tuesday, as well as 10% samples on Canadian energy.
Trump administration accused Canada not to do enough to solve these same border security problems, despite $ 1.3 billion in federal government’s investments, the appointment of a fentanyl Tsar and data showing fentanyl crises on the Canadian-American border continued to fall in hyperal last year.
Trudeau and Trump discussed the fentanyl issue during a one -hour phone call on Wednesday by an hour, which the Prime Minister described to journalists on Thursday as “colorful”.
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“I can confirm that we will continue to be in a trade war launched by the United States in the predictable future,” he said.
Thursday has marked the second time this week that Trump announced an exemption at Canada and Mexico prices.
On Wednesday, the White House said that the prices would be interrupted on the three major automotive manufacturers Stellantis, General Motors and Ford – which operate the North American production lines – until April 2.
It is at this moment that Trump calls for “reciprocal” prices will take effect to try to match all the prices and trade measures imposed by other countries.
The White House said Trump was “open” to additional exemptions, including on North American agricultural products.
Before Trump’s announcement on Thursday, US trade secretary Howard Lunick told CNBC that prices in Canada and Mexico would be “probably” delayed, adding “it is likely that this will cover all goods and services in accordance with USMCA”.
“If you lived under the United States of Donald TrumpMexico-Canada contract, you will get a stay of these prices now. If you have chosen to get out of this, you did it at your own risk, and today is when this calculation arrives, “he said.
Trudeau described the comments of Lutnick to “promise” in his remarks to journalists in Ottawa.
“This corresponds to some of the conversations we have had with administration officials, but I will wait for an official agreement to talk about the Canadian response and examine the details,” said Trudeau.
“It is a promising sign. But I will emphasize that this means that the prices remain in place, and therefore our answer will remain in place. »»
But Trump did not mention Canada in its ad.
A few hours earlier, he accused Trudeau “of using the pricing problem, which he largely caused, in order to present himself again for the Prime Minister”. Trudeau should resign after a new liberal chief is elected on Sunday by the party, and he confirmed on Thursday that there would be no remainder as the guardian Prime Minister after the election of his successor.
Trump’s Trump’s pricing threats, tariff threats, have disrupted the financial markets, lowered consumer confidence and wrapped many companies in an uncertain atmosphere that could delay hiring and investment.
Canada retaliated with a first cycle of prices over $ 30 billion in American products, while the provinces have drawn American alcohols from stores and canceled American commercial contracts, among other measures.
– with Reuters and Associated Press files
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