Trade War Impact: First Pass
Trade War Impact: First Pass
Managing Director & Chief Economist
Douglas Porter has over 30 years of experience analyzing global economies and financial markets. As Chief Economist at BMO Financial Group and author of the popular…
Douglas Porter has over 30 years of experience analyzing global economies and financial markets. As Chief Economist at BMO Financial Group and author of the popular…
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On February 1, U.S. President Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all non-energy imports from Canada and a 10% tariff on energy imports (effective February 4). In separate executive orders, a 25% tariff was levied on all imports from Mexico and a 10% tariff was put on all imports from China. These rates are in addition to any tariffs or duties already charged.
He invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to apply these tariffs. After declaring a national emergency at the southern border (January 20) due to “the influx of illegal aliens and illicit drugs”, the President expanded this to cover “the public health crisis of deaths due to the use of fentanyl and other illicit drugs”. And, specifically, “the failure of Canada to do more to arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept DTOs [drug trafficking organizations], other drug and human traffickers, criminals at large, and drugs”. Furthermore, this failure by Canada “constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat… to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”.
