US President Donald Trump on Monday said that tariffs on imported agricultural products could take effect on April 2, marking the latest in a series of aggressive trade measures.
“To the Great Farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricultural product to be sold INSIDE of the United States. Tariffs will go on external product on April 2nd,” Trump wrote his Truth Social account, without providing further details.
Trump initially announced broad tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico in February but later suspended them, accusing both countries of failing to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
In addition to existing 10-percent duties on Chinese imports, Trump has warned of implementing another 10-percent tariff starting Tuesday.
“There’s no doubt that the administration is trying to solve the long-standing fentanyl and immigration challenges, and these tariffs have given the administration leverage as we’ve seen with the response so far by Canada and Mexico,” stated Ryan Majerus, who previously served as a US trade official.
He told news agency AFP that Washington aims to achieve more balanced trade relationships.
In an effort to prevent broad-ranging duties, Mexico transferred several of its most infamous incarcerated drug lords to US custody last week. Among those extradited was a cartel leader long sought for killing an undercover US agent.
American importers would bear the burden of these tariffs, subsequently attempting to recover costs by increasing prices for consumers.
In a social media statement last month, Trump acknowledged potential consequences, stating: “WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN? YES, MAYBE (AND MAYBE NOT!),” and added, “BUT WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AND IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID.”