Trump sows confusion about tariffs for Canada and Mexico, floats 25% taxes on EU goods

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, increased on Wednesday the hope of another one month for new rates steep in imports of Mexico and Canada, saying that they could enter into force on April 2, and raised a “reciprocal” rate of 25% on European cars and other goods.

However, a White House official said that the previous deadline of Trump's March 4 for 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods remained in force “from this moment on”, waiting for his review of Mexican and Canadian actions to ensure their borders and stop the flow of migrants and the opioid fentanyl in the United States.

Trump sowed confusion during his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, when asked about the moment for the start of the duties for Canada and Mexico and replied that it would be April 2.

“I have to tell you that, you know, on April 2, I would do it on April 1,” Trump said. “But I am a bit superstitious, I did on April 2, the rates continue. Not all but many of them.”

Trump's comments caused jumps at the value of the Canadian dollar and the Mexican peso versus the Greenback.

Canadian Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told journalists that Canada would wait for Trump's signed executive orders before reacting.

“Our mission is still to avoid tariffs, extend the suspension if necessary,” said Champagne. “We are prepared, there will be a directed, strategic but firm answer” if Trump imposes rates.

The Ministry of Economy of Mexico declined to comment on Trump's comments, but said that the Minister of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, will meet Thursday with the newly confirmed trade representative of the United States, Jamieson Greer, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday.

Lutnick told the cabinet meeting that fentanyl -related actions stopped for 30 days, but referred to “general” rates on April 2. He did not specify whether the deadline of March 4 remained in force.

“So the great transaction is April 2, but things related to fentanil, we are working hard on the border,” Lutnick said. “At the end of those 30 days, they have to show the president that they have satisfied him in that regard. If they have done so, he will give them a pause, or will not.”

Trump has attacked in early April for imposing reciprocal tariffs that coincide with import tax rates from other countries and compensate for their other restrictions. Their commercial advisors consider that the value -added taxes of European countries are similar to a rate.

Trump, asked if he has decided a rate rate for the goods of the European Union, replied: “We have made a decision, and we will announce it very soon, and it will be 25%, in general, and that will be in cars and all things.”

He said the EU is a “different case” from Canada and takes advantage of the United States in different ways.

“They do not accept our cars. They do not essentially accept our agricultural products,” Trump said, adding that the EU was formed “to annoy the United States.”

A spokesman for the European Commission said the EU “will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade”, even for tariffs that challenge legal and non -discriminatory policies.

“The European Union is the world's largest free market. And it has been a blessing to the United States,” said the spokesman.

Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, was planning to meet with US legislators in Washington on Wednesday, but not with any Trump administration official.

Also on Wednesday, the United States Senate voted 56-43 to confirm Greer as commercial representative of the United States, putting a veteran of the first-period commercial wars of the Republican President at work.

Greer, who served as the chief of the former Ustr Robert Lighthizer, won the support of five Democrats, including both Senators of Michigan, the United States automotive industry center.

The commercial groups welcomed Greer's confirmation, praising their commitment to consult the industry and defend US companies, farmers and workers. “We share the desire of the Greer ambassador of an active and pragmatic commercial policy that creates more resistant United States jobs and supply chains,” said Jake Colvin, president of the National Foreign Trade Council.

Greer told the senators during his Senate Confirmation Hearing that he wanted to quickly renegotiate the American-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade to ensure that China does not use it as the rear door to the US market to avoid other rates.

“Just out of the door, I hope we take a second glance at the USMCA,” Greer said.

When asked what changes would like to see in the pact, Greer concentrated on a greater adjustment of the automotive content rules.

“I think we should analyze the rule of origin of cars and aerospace things and other things to look and see if we need to have some type of content in the content or added value of foreign concern countries, or non -commercial economies,” he said, using the language that US commercial officials often use to describe China.