In separate negotiations, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reached an agreement with US President Donald Trump to delay planned tariffs for at least a month. This move signals an attempt to ease trade tensions among North American partners. However, Trump’s tariffs on China remain on schedule, set to go into effect on Tuesday, underscoring his administration’s continued hardline stance against Beijing.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that US tariffs on Canadian imports will be postponed for 30 days following a discussion with President Donald Trump. In exchange, Canada has pledged to strengthen border security measures to curb illegal crossings and drug smuggling.
Canada Commits to Border Reinforcement
Trudeau revealed that Canada will implement a CA$1.3 billion (US$900 million) border security plan, increasing the number of frontline personnel to 10,000, up from 8,500 in December. The initiative includes the deployment of new helicopters, advanced technology, and expanded coordination with US authorities.
In a social media post, Trudeau emphasised the importance of collaborating with the U.S. to curb the flow of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl.
Crackdown on Organized Crime and Drug Cartels
As part of the agreement, Trudeau has signed a new intelligence directive to combat organised crime, allocating an additional CA$200 million for enforcement efforts. The plan includes launching a joint US-Canada task force targeting transnational drug trafficking and money laundering.
Additionally, Canada has agreed to Trump’s demand to classify drug cartels as terrorist organizations and to appoint a special envoy to oversee fentanyl-related efforts.
Tariffs on Mexican Imports Also Delayed
The deal comes just a day before the Trump administration was set to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian imports and a 10% levy on oil. Earlier, the US also agreed to delay tariffs on Mexican goods following a conversation between Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
With tensions easing for now, the coming weeks will determine whether Canada’s commitments will be enough to prevent the tariffs from being reinstated.
(With agency inputs)