Нominated by President Donald Trump, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick emphasized during his Senate hearing the importance of Mexico and Canada strengthening their measures against fentanyl trafficking to avoid possible tariffs from the United States. Lutnick pointed out that these actions will be fundamental in determining whether the tariffs announced by Trump for February 1st will be implemented. In this regard, he made it clear that the priority of the U.S. government is to protect its borders against this lethal drug.
"It is a domestic policy action: close your borders and stop the fentanyl that enters our country and kills people. It's a tariff to get action in Mexico and Canada," Lutnick expressed before U.S. lawmakers. He also conveyed a more optimistic message to his neighbors, mentioning that if they continue to act promptly, it is possible that the tariffs may not be implemented.
In this context, the White House spokesperson reported that for the moment, no changes have been made to the schedule, indicating that the threat of imposing tariffs remains in effect. However, Lutnick suggested the possibility that Mexico and Canada could avoid these tariffs during February through concrete actions against fentanyl trafficking.
In his speech, Lutnick highlighted that he and President Trump have discussed the possibility of establishing tariffs personalized by country, asserting that this approach would be fairer. Additionally, he expressed his preference for "generalized" tariffs instead of those directed at specific products, thus avoiding a retaliatory approach. The Secretary of Commerce also dismissed concerns about potential inflation in the United States as a consequence of the tariffs, although he acknowledged that certain products could experience pressure.
For her part, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed from a morning conference her confidence that dialogue between both governments will prevent the realization of the tariffs. Sheinbaum detailed that they continue to work on keeping communication lines open and emphasized the importance of understanding between the parties to resolve this trade conflict.
