Trump vows 25 pc tariffs on all goods from Canada, Mexico, adds more to China: 'Time to pay big price'

US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday (Nov 25) said that he will impose a massive 25 per cent tariff on all products which will be imported from Mexico and Canada over the neighbouring countries' failure to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs trade. He also vowed to slap another 10 per cent tariff on China over drug trafficking.

“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” wrote Trump on his social media platform Truth Social. 

It is important to levy the duty to crack down on drug smuggling and illegal immigration in the northern and southern parts of America, he said while announcing the many first decisions that he would take as the US commander-in-chief.

“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," he added.

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The president-elect spoke about his first of “many” executive orders which he will take on January 20. 

The imposition of tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico could be a deathknell to Nafta, the a regional free trade agreement of America with its neighbours.

“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,” said Trump.

He added that the tariff will “remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular, Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” 

Trump announces additional 10 per cent on goods from China

Trump also said he would impose an additional 10 per cent tariff on China because the country has not been able to curb the export of illicit fentanyl.

“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,” Trump wrote in another  post.  

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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,” he added.

“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,” he announced. 

“Thank you for your attention to this matter,” concluded the president-elect. 

While campaigning for the presidential elections, Trump had said he would impose blanket tariffs of 10 per cent to 20 per cent on virtually all imports.

He had also proposed to impose tariffs higher than 200 per cent on Mexican-made automobiles, stating that a lot of manufacturing plants located in the south of the border are either owned or supported by China. 

He had also threatened to impose 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods.

Trump will take over as the next president of the United States on January 20 after clinching a thumping victory in the presidential elections of November 5.

(With inputs from agencies)