The President of the United States, Donald Trump, confirmed that the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada will take effect on Tuesday, March 4, as previously stipulated. "The most important thing is that tomorrow the 25 percent tariffs for Canada and 25 percent for Mexico go into effect," Trump stated to the press. In a press conference from the White House, the U.S. president emphasized that companies wanting to avoid the tariffs must move and set up in their country.
"They should bring their auto plants to the United States; this is where they sell, let them come here to assemble them, and here they will not pay tariffs. I believe this is an exciting announcement for the automotive industry," Trump said, committing to continue imposing taxes due to the entry of large quantities of fentanyl from Mexico and China.
Trump's Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnich, noted that the method of applying these tariffs was still being debated. For their part, the International Chamber of Commerce Mexico expressed deep concern over these measures, indicating that far from protecting genuine interests, they threaten to fracture a region that has thrived thanks to cooperation and economic integration, putting at risk the stability and well-being of millions of citizens.
Among the potential negative effects that could arise from these tariffs are the increase in production costs, the reduction of the workforce, and the possibility of relocating affected companies, which would impact thousands of jobs and investment in training and human capital development. The loss of investor confidence, the increase in final product prices, and the possible interruption of already highly integrated supply chains are also highlighted.
