Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick teased that President Donald Trump may ease the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada after discussions with both countries all day.
The tariffs were enacted by Trump on Tuesday after being delayed by a month, with the president arguing a lack of efforts by the countries to curb the flow of illegal immigration and fentanyl into the United States necessitated the levies. Lutnick, speaking on Fox Business’s Kudlow, said that while there would not be a pause, there may be some form of easing the tariffs.
“Both the Mexicans and the Canadians were on the phone with me all day today, trying to show that they’ll do better, and the president is listening because, you know, he’s very, very fair and very reasonable,” Lutnick said.
“So I think he’s going to work something out with them. It’s not going to be a pause, none of that pause stuff, but I think he’s going to figure out — you do more, and I’ll meet you in the middle someway. And we’re going to probably be announcing that tomorrow,” he added. “So somewhere in the middle will likely be the outcome the president moving with the Canadians and Mexicans, but not all the way.”
Lutnick said Trump is “considering” giving relief for those who “live under” the rules of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement the president brokered in his first term.
TRUMP THREATENS TO MATCH CANADA’S RETALIATORY TARIFFS BY A ‘LIKE AMOUNT’
Trump has also teased reciprocal tariffs coming on April 2 and warned Canada that any retaliatory tariffs it imposes will be matched by the U.S. The president’s threat came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced they would impose 25% tariffs on the U.S.
“Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social earlier Tuesday.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
