Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has received a lot of criticism for his decision to impose severe tariffs on both imports from China, Mexico, and neighboring countries.
A day after signing three separate executive orders imposing 25% on all imports from Mexico and Canada and 10% on all imports from China, the US leader continued to be widely criticized on Sunday.
Trump cited a national emergency of fentanyl and “illegal” immigration entering the world’s largest economy (GDP) as justification for his broad decision.
Reactions from Mexico, Canada and China were the most immediate, as well as a raft of other nations, groups and organisations:
Mexico
Retaliatory tariffs against Trump’s decision were mandated by President Claudia Sheinbaum. She claimed in a protracted post on X that her government had been forced to engage in kind dialogue with its top trading partner in the north rather than face-to-face confrontation.
“I’ve instructed my economy minister to implement the Plan B we’ve been working on, which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico’s interests”, Sheinbaum posted, without specifying what US goods her government will target.
Sheinbaum also rejected as “slander” the White House’s allegation that drug cartels have an alliance with the Mexican government, a point Trump’s administration used to justify the , tariffs.
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on X that Trump’s tariffs were a “flagrant violation” of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
One of Mexico’s heaviest attacks in its history of independence is described as “the heaviest.” It is not admissible, it cannot be accepted, a unilateral decision of such magnitude … We are all going to lose, they will too”, Ricardo Monreal, the governing party congressional leader, said.
The US is by far Mexico’s most important foreign market. In 2023, Mexico surpassed China as the top destination for US exports. Economic analyst Gabriela Siller wrote on X that almost a third of Mexico’s GDP is directly derived from US exports.
US exports to Mexico accounted for more than $322bn in 2023, Census Bureau data showed, while the US imported more than $475bn worth of Mexican products.
Mexico has been preparing possible retaliatory tariffs – ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent – on pork, cheese, fresh produce, manufactured steel and aluminium, according to sources familiar with the matter. The auto industry would initially be exempt, they said.
Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced retaliatory measures, with 25 percent levies on a raft of US imports, including beer, wine and bourbon, as well as fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice from Trump’s home state of Florida.
Canada would also target goods, including clothing, sport equipment and household appliances. Some of those tariffs will take effect on Tuesday, the same day as Trump’s tariffs.
Trudeau predicted that Trump’s actions would be difficult for Canadians and that Americans would also experience difficulties.
During a press conference in Ottawa, Trudeau stated, “Tariffs against Canada will put your jobs in danger, potentially shutting down American auto assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities.”
“They will increase costs for you, including gas at the pump and food at the grocery store,” he said.
The 9, 000km (5, 600-mile) US-Canada border handles more than $2.5bn in trade a day, especially in energy and manufacturing, according to Canadian government data from 2023.
“An attack of this magnitude, Canadians will demand that their government respond. Americans should be aware that there is a lot of anger right now in Canada. We are supposed to be the United States’s closest ally, and folks are trying to wrap their heads around why this is happening”, said Lana Payne, head of Unifor, representing Canadian autoworkers.
Trump’s tariffs are “a complete betrayal of the historic bond between our countries and a declaration of economic war against a trusted ally,” according to British Columbia Premier David Eby.
“As British Columbians, and as Canadians, we will stand strong and united in the face of this unprecedented attack”, he said.
Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, said that the country has “no choice but to respond strongly.”
“As Ontario’s premier, I have my full support for a strong, forceful response that satisfies US tariffs dollar for dollar.” Canada has so much of what America needs: high-grade nickel and other critical minerals, energy and electricity, uranium, potash, aluminium. We must make the most of our leverage points. According to him, the federal government must also use every legal means to challenge these unfair, unjustified, and illegal tariffs.
China
Trump’s decision was denounced by China’s finance and commerce ministries, but talks could still be held to stop a growing conflict.
Beijing will take unnamed “countermeasures” against Beijing, according to the ministries. The  , Ministry of Commerce said the tariff “seriously violates” international trade rules, urging the US to “engage in frank dialogue and strengthen cooperation”.
But their response was less than the escalation that had marked Trump’s first-term presidency’s trade showdown with China.
China’s sharpest pushback on Sunday was over fentanyl, which Beijing has been urging the US to crack down.
“Fentanyl is America’s problem”, the Ministry of Finance said. “The Chinese side has worked closely with the United States to fight drug trafficking and achieve remarkable things.”
Meanwhile, Zhiwei Zhang, an expert on the Chinese economy, said Trump’s action was “not a big shock to China’s economy”, adding that it was “unlikely to change the market expectation on China’s macro outlook”.
Japan
Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said Japan, a leading US trade partner, was “deeply concerned about how these tariffs could affect the world’s economy”.
According to Tokyo-based Kyodo News, he stressed on Sunday that the US should “thoroughly assess” foreign exchange movements and the US’s outlook on monetary policy.
According to Kato, “We will have to closely examine how Japan would be particularly affected and take the necessary steps] in response.”
Other politicians, analysts and business groups also weighed in.
South Korea
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered government agencies to closely monitor any effect of Trump’s tariff on South Korean companies and the country’s economy, according to the official Yonhap news agency.
South Korean businesses with manufacturing facilities in Mexico had been anticipating US tariffs from the beginning.
According to Yonhap quoted CFO Park Soon-cheol, Samsung Electronics has been weighing “potential opportunities and risks from the changing geopolitical landscape, including the US presidential election.”
In an effort to avoid tariffs, LG Electronics may also start manufacturing its refrigerators and TVs at its washing machine and dryer factory in Tennessee, in the center of the US, according to Yonhap-quotient company officials.
The home appliances manufacturer has manufacturing facilities in Mexico for TV, refrigerator, and other automotive components.
US Senator Charles Schumer
The minority leader of the US Senate claims that consumers will likely pay more for the new tariffs.
“You’re watching the Super Bowl next week. Wait until Trump’s tariffs raise pizza prices, the Democratic senator wrote on X.
“You’re worried about car prices. Wait till Trump’s Canada tariffs raise your car prices”.
American Petroleum Institute
“Energy markets are highly integrated, and free and fair trade across our borders is critical for delivering affordable, reliable energy to US consumers. We will continue to collaborate with the Trump administration to create full exclusions that promote American jobs, protect consumers’ energy affordability, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness.
Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council
Source: Aljazeera
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