The latest on Trump's tariffs
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday issuing tariffs on goods coming into the United States from Canada, Mexico and China. The order implemented a 25% tariff on Mexican and most Canadian goods while imposing a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products and Chinese goods.
- Trump said Americans could feel "some pain" after the tariffs take effect.
- Canada and Mexico hit back, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum threatening retaliatory measures that included tariffs. Canada's retaliatory tariffs would begin Tuesday, the day U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports are scheduled to take effect. Sheinbaum said in a video message today that she could announce details of what she calls "Plan B" as soon as tomorrow.
- The Chinese Commerce Ministry responded by announcing that China would file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization "and take necessary countermeasures to firmly safeguard its rights and interests."
Trump accuses Canada, a close ally, of being 'abusive' of the U.S.
Trump accused Canada, a close U.S. ally, of being "very abusive of the United States for many years."
"I love the people of Canada. I disagree with the leadership of Canada, and something is going to happen there," Trump told reporters today ahead of boarding Marine One to head to the White House. "But if they want to play the game, I don't mind. We can play the game all they want."
His comments come on the heels of Trudeau announcing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products in response to Trump imposing tariffs on Canadian imports.
Trudeau says he and Sheinbaum 'agreed to remain in close contact' amid Trump's tariffs
Trudeau's office said in a news release today that he and Sheinbaum spoke yesterday about "the imposition of U.S. tariffs on both countries, as well as their respective efforts to enhance border security and combat the production and distribution of illegal drugs."
They “agreed to remain in close contact,” the release said.
Trudeau and Sheinbaum also laid out their countries' "deep people-to-people ties, the strong trade and investment relationship between Canada and Mexico, and the importance of preserving North American competitiveness and prosperity."
Both leaders have expressed deep opposition to Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on the two close U.S. allies.
Stock futures drop after Trump signs tariffs into effect
Futures, which indicate where the stock market will open tomorrow morning, dropped as trading began at 6 p.m. ET.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slid more than 500 points. The S&P 500 was set for a drop of more than 1.8%, and Nasdaq futures fell by nearly 2.8%.
With China, Mexico and Canada as top U.S. trading partners whose economies are highly intertwined with the United States’, markets are likely to be rattled by aggressive tariffs, such as those Trump signed yesterday. Oil prices also rose, which is likely to stoke concerns among investors about prices at the gas pump.
Mexican president gives Trump until tomorrow to agree to work together or face retaliatory measures
In a video message today on X, Sheinbaum gave the United States the option to walk back its 25% tariffs on imports from her country and agree to work side by side — or else face retaliatory measures to be announced as soon as tomorrow.
Sheinbaum called the White House’s claims that the Mexican government has ties with criminal groups “irresponsible” and “slanderous,” adding the United States is partly to blame for the fentanyl crisis.
She denounced the government for not taking tougher action on illegal drug sales in U.S. cities and not cracking down on the sale of U.S.-made weapons to Mexican drug cartels.
“I want to tell you that this is very important, very important: Mexico does not want confrontation. We start from collaboration between neighboring countries,” Sheinbaum said.
She added that she proposed to Trump yesterday the establishment of a “working group” comprised of both countries’ best security and public health teams to address the fentanyl crisis.
“I propose that we wait for President Trump’s response to our proposal. And in tomorrow’s morning press conference, I will be informing you of the first measures of what we call the plan B,” Sheinbaum added, referring to a plan the Mexican government has been working on that would include tariff and non-tariff retaliatory measures “in defense of Mexico’s interests.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio warns Panama’s president about Chinese influence over the Panama Canal
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino in Panama over the weekend, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a readout of the meeting.
Rubio told Mulino about Trump’s concern regarding Chinese influence over the Panama Canal and said Rubio “made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty,” according to Bruce.
Canadian ambassador: Canadians expect their country to 'stand up for itself'
The Canadian ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, said today that the Canadian government hopes to avert the imposition of tariffs by Tuesday but that it will stand up for itself if the United States doesn't stand down.
"It’s hard to know what more we can do, but we’re obviously open to any other suggestions that come our way," Hillman said about the possibility of avoiding a trade war with the United States in an interview on ABC News’ “This Week." She said low-level conversations between the two countries have occurred since Trump's announcement yesterday that he's slapping 25% tariffs on imports from Canada.
In the wake of Trump's decision, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs.
"I think the Canadian people are going to expect that our government stands firm and stands up for itself," Hillman told ABC News. She added, "I don’t think we’re not at all in interested in escalating, but I think that there will be a very strong demand on our government to make sure that we, we stand up" for continuing to observe existing free trade agreements.
Hillman added that Canadians are "perplexed, I think, disappointed" by Trump's decision, highlighting long-standing friendship between the two countries.
"We, we view ourselves as your neighbor, your closest friend, your ally, you know. A country whose citizens have fought and died with you around the world in defense of values that we share, who came to the aid of the Los Angeles fires most recently," she said. "I think we are really perplexed by this move."
Canada, Mexico and China slam Trump’s tariffs
Hours after Trump signed the orders implementing tariffs, Canada, Mexico and China slammed the move and promised retaliatory measures.
U.S. allies Canada and Mexico said they would implement their own tariffs in response to Trump’s, a move that signals further economic upheaval among the close trading partners. China, a U.S. competitor, did not mention retaliatory tariffs or other specific measures but said it would file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization and enact “necessary countermeasures.”
USAID security officials placed on leave after DOGE employees access internal systems
The director of security and the deputy director of security at the U.S. Agency for International Development were placed on administrative leave last night after four Department of Government Efficiency employees accessed USAID offices last week and sought to access its systems, according to three current and former USAID officials.
The security office is essential to managing security clearance investigations and maintaining USAID's relationship with the intelligence community.
In another major move to curtail USAID’s operation, most of the staff at its legislative and public affairs bureau were also placed on administrative leave last night.
A fourth source told NBC News that several of the agency’s communications staff members also were blocked from access to its internal systems to communicate with staff members last week.
Trump ally and tech mogul Elon Musk, who leads DOGE, posted on X about the “death” of USAID, along with other inaccurate representations of the government’s international aid and development agency.
"USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die," he wrote.
Sen. Chuck Schumer blasts Trump for imposing tariffs that could raise prices for Americans
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer today blasted Trump's decision to impose tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada.
"Donald Trump is initiating a 25% increase in tariffs on Mexico and Canada. And what’s that going to mean? Higher prices, higher prices for New Yorkers, higher prices for Americans," Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters at a news conference.
"So I am saying to President Trump: 'Stop these tariffs. You campaigned on lowering prices. You campaigned on this wallet, but your tariffs will have more money come out of this wallet for so many goods and services, for food, for clothing, for cars,'" he said.
To make his point, Schumer held up a Corona beer, a lime and an avocado, highlighting the fact that Americans tend to drink beer and eat guacamole on Super Bowl Sunday, which is coming up next weekend.
"Most of it — Corona, here — comes from Mexico," Schumer said. "It's going to affect your guac, because what is guacamole made of? Avocados, both from Mexico. If you have pizza, it's going to affect the cost of cheese. So all of these — all of these are subject to price increases, almost anything that you buy or eat."
GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt sidesteps questions about whether Edward Snowden is a traitor
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., sidestepped a question about whether Edward Snowden is a traitor to the United States while defending Trump's pick to be the director of national intelligence.
Asked directly whether he considers Snowden a traitor, Schmitt told "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker: "Look, if he's — if he's been indicted, if he ever comes back United States, he's going to have a trial. But this idea of you trying to disqualify people by using these terms is ridiculous."
Senators on both sides of the aisle raised concerns last week about former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's nominee to be the next DNI, and her past comments supporting Snowden and calling him a "brave whistleblower."
At her confirmation hearing on Thursday, Gabbard did not directly answer questions about whether she considered Snowden a traitor when senators grilled her about her past comments about him.
Snowden worked as a contractor for the National Security Agency and in 2013 leaked a trove of highly classified documents about a global surveillance program. He fled the country and has been living in Russia for over a decade.
Schmitt praised Gabbard today, saying he'll vote in favor of her confirmation.
"I think she's very well qualified. No one's disputing that," he said, adding: "She served our country honorably in the military. She's been a member of Congress, and I think she strikes a really important balance for a key position of civil liberties — protecting civil liberties of United States citizens, and also our national security."
Trump says Canada should join the U.S. to avoid tariffs
Trump suggested yesterday on Truth Social that the tariffs against Canada are a move to entice it to join the United States.
"We pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason. We don’t need anything they have," he wrote.
He added: "Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!"
Trump acknowledges there may 'be some pain' with tariffs
Trump defended his tariffs on Truth Social this morning, calling critics the "tariff lobby."
He accused the three countries of having participated in a "decades long RIPOFF OF AMERICA, both with regard to TRADE, CRIME, AND POISONOUS DRUGS."
Still, Trump questioned, in all-capitals: "WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN?"
He then answered his own question, writing: "YES, MAYBE (AND MAYBE NOT!). BUT WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AND IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID."
New DNC Chair Ken Martin says people should be 'pretty pissed off' about tariffs
Ken Martin, who won yesterday's election to chair the Democratic National Committee, said "working families will" shoulder the cost of Trump's tariffs.
"Here’s the thing about Donald Trump’s erratic tariff policy: Trump isn’t going to make corporate billionaires pay for these tariffs — working families and small businesses will," he said. "He’s using American workers as pawns in his petty political games. If a president promised that they’d help my family get by and then they did this, I’d be pretty pissed off. So you should be pissed off."
Martin succeeds Jaime Harrison, who previously headed the DNC.
United Auto Workers president responds to tariffs
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, a frequent Trump critic, said yesterday on X that if Trump "is serious" about wanting to increase "good blue collar jobs," he should "immediately seek to renegotiate our broken trade deals."
"The UAW supports aggressive tariff action to protect American manufacturing jobs as a good first step to undoing decades of anti-worker trade policy," he wrote. "We do not support using factory workers as pawns in a fight over immigration or drug policy."