President Donald Trump on Monday agreed to pause the implementation of planned tariffs on imports from Canada for at least 30 days, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
The pause was announced in a tweet by Trudeau hours after Trump and Mexico’s president said Trump would pause for one month planned tariffs on imports from Mexico.
Trump on Saturday said he would impose 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, and 10% tariffs on goods imported from China. Trump had also planned to impose a 10% tariff on energy resources from Canada.
Trudeau in his tweet said, “I just had a good call with President Trump,” and suggested that the pause on tariffs was in response to Canada’s agreement to target the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl across the border into the United States.
Trudeau said Canada had made new commitments “to appoint a Fentanyl Czar,” among other measures.
“Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together,” Trudeau wrote.
Trump’s pause on tariffs on Mexican imports likewise came after Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would immediately send 10,000 soldiers to the U.S. border to prevent drug trafficking, fentanyl in particular, from Mexico.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweet reads:
“I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.
“In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.
“Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”