U.S. President Donald Trump said he would be pushing back the start date for tariffs on Canadian imports to April 2, despite conflicting information from the White House.
On Wednesday, Trump announced the postponement for both tariffs on Canada and Mexico during his first cabinet meeting in Washington. The 25 per cent tariffs were previously set to start on March 4.
However, Trump’s remarks were quickly clarified by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
“The fentanyl-related things, they are working hard on the border, at the end of that 30 days they have to prove to the president that they’ve satisfied him to that regard,” Lutnick said, adding that deadline was different from the one on the reciprocal tariffs. “If they have, he will give them a pause — or he won’t.”
Officials from the White House have also said to media that tariff plans could change through negotiations.
Canadian officials and premiers, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, have been visiting Washington to visit Trump’s administration in hopes of changing their minds on the tariffs.
Trump initially announced the tariffs before he was elected in January in an attempt to mitigate the flow of illegal drugs passing the Canada-U.S. border. He also announced a 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy imports. In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada would invoke 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs on American imports.
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However, earlier this month Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he reached an agreement with Trump to implement a 30-day pause on the tariffs.
Amid heightened tensions with the U.S., Canadians have started to boo during the U.S. national anthem at sporting events and prioritize buying local products.
