president Trump blanket levied 25% tariff On Tuesday, they cited a prompt pledge of retaliation from their US neighbors for all goods imported from Canada and Mexico. China, which has been hit by the second 10% tariff on US exports since Trump took office, has raised its total collection to 20% and quickly announced its own mutual action.
Below, we look at measures imposed or planned by Canada, China and Mexico, and see rhetoric from officials of those countries as Trump has intensified a trade war between one of America’s biggest enemies and their two closest neighbors.
Canada announces mutual tariffs. Trudeau calls Trump’s move “what to do”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in a statement late Monday night that he was immediately retaliating against the new US tariffs. He said Canada will soon pose $30 billion in anti-crime on goods imported from the US, escalating to $155 billion worth of American products within the next 21 days. Trudeau has previously said Canada will target American beer, wine, bourbon and appliances, as well as Florida orange juice.
“Canada will not let this unfair decision be unanswered,” Trudeau said, adding that he had already been discussing with Canadian state leaders various non-tariff measures that could be imposed if the Trump administration does not lift tariffs.
“Due to tariffs imposed by the US, Americans could potentially lose thousands of jobs by paying more for groceries, gas and cars. Tariffs disrupt highly successful business relationships.
At a press conference Tuesday, Trudeau condemned President Trump’s decision.
“We should work together to ensure even greater prosperity for North Americans in a very uncertain and challenging world,” he said. “It’s not my habit to agree to the Wall Street Journal right now, but Donald points out that this is a very stupid thing, even if you’re a very clever guy.”
“Today, the US has launched a trade war with Canada, a closet partner and closet friend. Likewise, they are talking about working actively with Russia. “Our two friends are what our opponents around the world want to see.”
Trudeau also said Canada will challenge US actions through the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade agreement that will replace NAFTA by filling dispute resolution requests at the World Trade Organization.
Some Canadian governors are calling for a more stringent response.
“If they want to annihilate Ontario, I’ll do everything, like blocking off their energy with a smile on my face, and I encourage all other provinces to do the same. “They depend on our energy. They need to feel the pain. They want to come hard on us.”
Ford said retaliation measures that Canada could consider moving forward include cutting energy supplies as well as halting the shipment of important minerals such as uranium, potassium and nickel.
He also said he asked officials in his provincial state to end billions of dollars in contracts with the US and to halt American alcohol imports into Ontario.
“It will be an absolute disaster for both countries,” he admitted in another interview with NBC News. “I don’t want to respond, but I’ll respond like they’ve never seen it before.”
Trump is framed tariffs in Canada in response to what he is saying. Most drugs go in that wayaccording to statistics compiled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency.
In a message posted on his own truth social platform early Tuesday, Trump also said he was struggling with Canadian banking regulations, saying “American banks are not permitted to do business in Canada, but banks are overflowing with the American market,” but he didn’t provide any further context.
“I heard this morning he again talked about banking,” Trudeau said at a press conference Tuesday. Fake, completely unfair, completely false.
Trump has repeatedly said Canada should become the “51st state.”
Trudeau defended Canada’s actions regarding Canada’s border control and the illegal flow of fentanyl, saying that between December 2024 and January 2025, US authorities’ drug attacks from Canada fell 97% to just 0.03 pounds. He said that decline came after Canada deployed more helicopters and more boots on the ground and implemented a $1.3 billion plan to appoint “Emperor Fentanyl.”
China has announced tariffs and warns against “maximum pressure” tactics
Trump has long accused China of giving manufacturers and other companies an unfair advantage in trade with the US, and has vowed to balance a highly biased flow of goods. However, he framed his latest tariffs on the country as punishment for what he claims.
The Chinese government refused to retreat in the face of an escalating trade war with the Trump administration, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jiang told reporters in Beijing on Tuesday that “Chinese people cannot be thwarted by tactics of false cieties, threats and bullying.”
“To put maximum pressure on China is targeting the wrong enemy and is a misreading of the situation. If the US really wants to resolve the problem of fentanyl, it should engage in consultations with China, built on the principles of equality, respect and mutual benefit to address each other’s concerns,” he said.
“If the United States has other intentions and is committed to fighting a tariff war, a trade war, or another kind of war, China will respond kindly,” Lin said.
China quickly retaliated and announced a 10-15% tariff on US agricultural products and foods, from wheat, corn and cotton to soybeans, beef, chicken and dairy products. Beijing also cited the fact that it had placed 25 US companies based on export and investment restrictions, saying it was a national security concern.
Veteran Chinese analyst Victor Gao told CBS News that China’s anti-abuse affects our farmers — he recognizes Beijing as one of Trump’s support bases — he believes Beijing is measured in its response and doesn’t want to inflam the situation.
Anthony Dunn/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group/Getty
Gao, who worked with the country’s leadership and is now the vice president of China Center and vice president of globalization in Beijing, said China is preparing for a trade war with the US more than during Trump’s first term as it diversifies into other non-US markets.
He said that if President Xi Jinping really wants to strengthen Beijing’s retaliation, he could halt US gas and oil imports, but he opposed the impact on both countries if the trade war continues to escalate and says it will end with a “bloody tie” at best.
However, Gao believes that behind the scenes discussions are continuing between us and Chinese officials, and that both countries believe they have little interest in the Tarto customs battle, which has probably worsened.
Mexican president vows to retaliate against “unthinkable” tariffs
Mexican President Claudia Sinbaum said Tuesday that her country will respond to the 25% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on its own retaliatory and non-tariff measures, but announced exactly what they were and pledged a statement Sunday in Mexico City’s main squares. She said she plans to call Trump this week, probably on Thursday.
She said that the mutual measures Mexico takes are “unfortunately not intended to launch economic or commercial conflicts, which is, unfortunately, the opposite of what we have to do.”
“It’s hard to imagine them not thinking about the damage this will cause to US citizens and businesses due to the rising prices of what this has been produced in our country,” Sinbaum said. “And also the damage caused by stopping job creation in both countries. No one wins this decision.”
Raquel Cunha/Reuters
Shainbaum highlighted how Mexico worked with the US to work with the US to respond to demands to stop the flow of fentanyl to the US and strengthen the US-Mexico border to curb movement.
“We will work together to avoid illegal drug trafficking, but as I said on multiple occasions, the government of that country must also be held accountable for the opioid consumption crisis that caused so many deaths in the United States,” the Mexican leader said.
“There is no motivation, no reason or justification to support this decision that affects our people and our nation,” Sinbaum added.
According to Bloomberg, the Mexican peso hit the US dollar as the Mexican peso made her remarks on Tuesday.
