President Donald Trump defended his recent tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday night, suggesting that the European Union could face similar measures.
The tariffs, authorized through an executive order on Saturday, will take effect on Tuesday. Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 25% tariff will be applied to imports from Canada and Mexico, while a 10% tariff will be imposed on imports from China.
Trump’s imposition of the tariffs comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced progress in talks with Panama to woo that country away from China’s influence and back into a better diplomatic relationship with the U.S.
In the executive order, Trump said that the tariffs stem from an “extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl, [that] constitutes a national emergency.”
The tariffs have drawn international criticism from leaders and citizens in both Canada and Mexico. During his conversation with reporters on Sunday evening, Trump accused Canada of being “abusive” in its trade relations with the U.S.
“Canada has been very abusive of the United States for many years. They don’t allow our banks,” Trump claimed. “And you know that Canada does not allow banks to go in, if you think about it. That’s pretty amazing. If we have a U.S. bank, they don’t allow them to go in.”
“Canada has been very tough for oil on energy. They don’t allow our farm products in, essentially. They don’t allow a lot of things in. And we allow everything to come in as being a one-way street,” Trump added.
Trump also claimed that the U.S. subsidizes Canada “by the tune of about $200 billion a year.”
“And for what? What do we get out of it? We don’t get anything out of it,” he said. “I love the people of Canada. I disagree with the leadership of Canada, and something is going to happen there.”
Trump noted further that he would “definitely” impose tariffs on the European Union, claiming the U.S. has a $300 billion trade deficit with, according to Fox News.
“They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products, they take almost nothing,” Trump said. “And we take everything from them. Millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm products. So the UK is way out of line and we’ll see the UK, but the European Union is really out of line.”
Meanwhile, Panama’s president pledged on Sunday to end a crucial development deal with China following a meeting with Rubio and complaints from Trump, who criticized Panama for allowing Beijing to gain control over its strategic shipping canal.
José Raúl Mulino, Panama’s president, asserted that the country’s sovereignty over the 51-mile waterway connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea would remain intact. However, he announced that Panama would not renew a 2017 memorandum of understanding to join China’s Belt and Road global development initiative, opting instead to strengthen ties with the U.S.
“I think this visit opens the door to build new relations … and try to increase as much as possible U.S. investments in Panama,” Mulino told reporters after he met with Rubio, the latter on his first international trip since being confirmed.
In an X post, Rubio thanked his Panamanian team and vowed to pursue the Trump administration’s agenda in the region.
“Had the pleasure of meeting the incredible @USEmbPAN team during my first embassy meet and greet in my new role as Secretary of State!” Rubio wrote. “Thankful for their dedication and ongoing efforts to promoting President Trump’s vision of an America First foreign policy.”
During the visit, Rubio also wrote on the platform that “the United States cannot, and will not, allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue with its effective and growing control over the Panama Canal area.”
Trump has criticized China for exerting control over the canal and imposing six-figure premiums on U.S. ships crossing the isthmus. The canal, constructed by the U.S. over several decades and completed in 1914, was essentially gifted to Panama during President Jimmy Carter’s administration.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
