President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that 25% tariffs will go into effect on goods made by Canada and Mexico on March 4.

Trump said in a Truth Social post: “Drugs are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels. A large percentage of these Drugs, much of them in the form of Fentanyl, are made in, and supplied by, China. More than 100,000 people died last year due to the distribution of these dangerous and highly addictive POISONS. Millions of people have died over the last two decades. The families of the victims are devastated and, in many instances, virtually destroyed. We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled. China will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date. The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect. Thank you for your attention to this matter. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

During a meeting on Wednesday with his cabinet, Trump said that he is planning to impose 25% tariffs on goods imported from the European Union, including “cars and all other things. They’ve really taken advantage of us. They don’t accept our cars, they don’t accept, essentially, our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not. And we accept everything from them.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that she hoped to speak with Trump this week, while Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente was scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday afternoon.  Sheinbaum said that her government would stay “cool-headed” and optimistic about an agreement coming together to avoid the tariffs, adding: “I hope we are able to reach an agreement and on March 4 we can announce something else.” (per AP News.)

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