The tariff war between these countries is intensifying as U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China from the 4th.
While President Trump expressed his willingness to reject the U.S., saying that the U.S. has no choice but to bear some pain, Canada announced its plan to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Mexico announced a detailed response plan on the 3rd.
There are also criticisms in the U.S. that the imposition of the tariffs is a “self-inflicted measure,” but President Trump has announced his plan to expand tariffs to the European Union (EU) regionally and to semiconductors, steel, and oil by sector, so it is expected that South Korea will soon be in the direct range of influence of the Trump-induced tariff storm. In a post on his social media, Truth Social, President Trump asked about the tariff measures, saying, “Maybe there will be some pain,” and added, “But it’s worth paying.”
“This will be the golden age of the United States,” he said. “The outcome (of tariffs) will be spectacular.”
He justified the imposition of tariffs by repeating claims that other countries had looted the United States in trade and other matters.
“President Trump’s message is simple,” Vice President J.D. Vance also said in a Fox News interview, “We are sick and tired of being used by other countries, and we have a president who works for the benefit of the American people.”
“Thank God, we still have the largest economy, the best people and workers in the world,” he said, defending President Trump’s tariff measures.
However, concerns continue within the United States that Trump’s actions could hurt the American people and industry, including inflation.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told a news conference in New York that “President Trump promised to lower prices during the election, but even conservative groups said the tariff measures would put an additional burden on families of $830,” urging the government to “stop imposing tariffs.”
“At the legislative level, we will seek every way we can to prevent this tariff from being implemented,” APTN and others reported. Canada announced the previous day that it would impose the same 25% tariff against the U.S. 25% tariff on its country, and released a detailed list of products that will be subject to tariffs from the 4th.
They include American products such as honey, tomatoes, whiskey, refrigerators, and toilets.
In addition, Canada’s Ontario and other states have announced that they will not sell American beer, wine, or distillers at government-owned liquor stores.
Canada plans to impose tariffs on US products worth C$155 billion overall.
Furthermore, Canada has decided to bring President Trump’s tariff measures to the WTO for violating trade agreements.
At the same time, AFP and others reported that relief measures under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) would also be pursued.
Mexico announced on the 3rd that it would announce specific measures for President Trump’s tariffs.
President Claudia Sheinbaum raised her fist in the air in a video posted online, saying Trump’s tariff measures would hurt the American people with higher prices.
Reuters and others reported that he emphasized that rational attitudes should come first.
Earlier in a post on X the day before, President Sheinbaum said, “I have instructed the Minister of Economy to implement Plan B, including tariff and non-tariff measures to protect Mexico’s interests.”
China also issued a statement at the Department of Commerce after President Trump’s announcement the day before, announcing the WTO complaint and counterattack measures.
In this regard, President Trump warned in an executive order to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China that if the other country takes retaliatory measures, it could respond by raising tariffs.
Furthermore, at the end of last month, President Trump also declared a policy of imposing sectoral tariffs on semiconductors, steel, aluminum, copper, oil, and gas.
He also said he would impose multiple tariffs on the European Union (EU), which is expected to expand and intensify global trade conflicts caused by “Trump tariffs” in the future.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
