Executive actions: Donald Trump delays some tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month

The executive actions follow a discussion Trump held with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and negotiations between Canadian and Trump administration officials

Washington: US President Donald Trump has signed executive actions that delay for nearly one month tariffs on all products from Mexico and Canada that are covered by the USMCA free trade treaty, a significant walk back of the administration’s signature economic plan that has rattled markets, businesses and consumers.

The executive actions follow a discussion Trump held on Thursday with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and negotiations between Canadian and Trump administration officials.

“After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday, after a phone conversation with the Mexican President. He said the tariffs would be delayed until April 2.

The USMCA is the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, negotiated by Trump during his first term, that makes the three North American countries a free trade zone.

“I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl,” Trump added.

“Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!” Sheinbaum, in a post on X, thanked US President Donald Trump for a “respectful” discussion about the tariffs he imposed.

Sheinbaum said that “virtually all” of Mexico’s trade with the United States is included in the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “Practically all the trade we have with the United States is within the Mexico, United States, Canada Agreement. There is a part that has to do with rules of origin, but everything is practically within the trade agreement,” Sheinbaum said at a news conference on Thursday.

It’s a complicated trade policy, and the White House official suggested those goods producers could register to comply with USMCA rules to avoid the 25 per cent tariff for a month.

But the official referred the press to the US Trade Representative for more details about which products will maintain the 25 per cent tariff and which won’t once those details become available.

However, Trump has sharply criticised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he accused of trying to capitalise politically on the tariff angst Canadians have felt. It was notable that Trump initially announced a reprieve for Mexico but not Canada, although he eventually granted one for Canada, too.

“Believe it or not, despite the terrible job he’s done for Canada, I think that Justin Trudeau is using the Tariff problem, which he has largely caused, in order to run again for Prime Minister,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. And Trudeau said that all his country’s retaliatory measures would remain in place unless the United States completely rolls back its tariffs, not just temporarily.