The United States imposed 25% tariffs on nearly all goods imported from Mexico and Canada Tuesday, after taking a month for aides to negotiate a potential reprieve. Duties of 10% were put in place on Canadian energy products.
The tariffs went into effect at 12:01 a.m., hours before President Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress of his second term.
The U.S. also imposed 10% tariffs on imports from China on top of those already in place, bringing them to 20%.
China responded immediately, announcing it would put additional tariffs of up to 15% on imports of key U.S. farm products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef. They’re slated to take effect March 10. China also imposed export controls and other curbs on about two dozen more U.S. companies.
What’s more, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, “If the United States … persists in waging a tariff war, a trade war, or any other kind of war, the Chinese side will fight them to the bitter end,” according to Agence France-Presse.