'Hit and Appease' Trump Delays 25% Tariff on Mexican Imports for One Month

Trump: "Tariff Exemption for USMCA Goods"

U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to delay the imposition of a 25% tariff on most goods coming from Mexico by one month. This is a follow-up measure after the one-month exemption from tariffs on Mexican and Canadian automobiles announced the previous day.

AFP Yonhap News

On the 6th (local time), President Trump stated on his social networking service (SNS) Truth Social, which he created, "After speaking with Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, we agreed that Mexico does not have to pay tariffs on all goods covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)," adding, "This agreement is valid until April 2."

The United States applies tariff-free treatment to most traded goods under the USMCA, a free trade agreement (FTA) among the three North American countries.

He said, "Our relationship has been very good. We are working hard to stop illegal aliens and fentanyl from crossing the border." He added, "I did this out of consideration and respect for President Sheinbaum," and expressed gratitude for her efforts and cooperation.

President Trump did not announce a tariff exemption for Canada. After the 25% tariff took effect in the U.S. on the 4th, Mexico left room for negotiation by stating it would announce detailed measures on the 9th, whereas Canada immediately retaliated by imposing counter-tariffs, which is believed to have caused resentment.

He claimed, "Believe it or not, Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister of Canada) is using the terrible situation Canada is facing to run for re-election as Prime Minister, mainly caused by the tariff issue." President Trump also wrote on SNS after a call with Prime Minister Trudeau the previous day that Trudeau is trying to maintain power by exploiting the tariff issue.

However, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross earlier suggested that tariffs on Canada, as well as Mexico, could be delayed for one month based on the goods and services covered by the USMCA. In an interview with CNBC that day, he predicted that if additional exemptions are implemented, more than half of the goods imported from Mexico and Canada into the U.S. would be exempt from tariffs.

The reason President Trump set the tariff exemption deadline for Mexican imports as April 2 is analyzed to be because that day marks the point when he announced the reciprocal tariffs. He plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on that date, taking into account tariffs and non-tariff barriers of each country.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.