By Anna Commander
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President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said he will impose an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese products entering the U.S. and a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico.
Trump announced the plan on Truth Social as an attempt to stop drugs coming into the country and to curb illegal immigration, echoing vows he made during his 2024 presidential election campaign.
"I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail," he posted on his social media platform.
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"Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before. Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump's post continued.
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Newsweek reached out to the Trump transition team via email for additional comment on Monday.
In another post to Truth Social, the president-elect said in part: "As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before. Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders."
Trump then said the tariffs would remain "until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!"
China and Mexico are the two countries trafficking the most fentanyl and fentanyl-related products into America, according to the Associated Press, per the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
While campaigning during the 2024 election season, Trump said he would enact tariffs on the two nations in efforts to halt drugs from entering the U.S., Reuters reported. While running for his second term in the White House, the president-elect vowed a 60 percent blanket tariff on Chinese goods and also threatened a 25 percent duty on Mexican goods if Mexico resisted his immigration plans.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the U.S. imported $4 trillion in goods and services from across the globe, with China accounting for $433 billion of the total.
Billionaire Bill Ackman reacted to the news on X, formerly Twitter, saying, "To be clear, according to Trump the 25% tariffs will not be implemented, or if implemented will be removed, once Mexico and Canada stop the flow of illegal immigrants and fentanyl into the U.S."
"In other words, @realDonaldTrump is going to use tariffs as a weapon to achieve economic and political outcomes which are in the best interest of America, fulfilling his America first policy. This is a great way for Trump to effect foreign policy changes even before he takes office," Ackman said.
Update 11/25/24, 8:20 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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