President-elect Donald Trump has announced that one of his initial actions after assuming office will be to implement a broad 25% tariff on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico.

Trump, 78, explained that this move is necessary to compel America’s northern and southern neighbors to address issues such as illegal immigration and drug trafficking more effectively.

“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social. “Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border.”

He continued, stating, “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders.”

The president-elect further emphasized that this tariff would remain in place until the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal immigration is halted. “The tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

Trump added, “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!”

In addition to the tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Trump committed to imposing a further 10% tariff on China, in addition to existing tariffs, for their failure to curb the illegal export of fentanyl.

“I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail,” he wrote in a separate social media post.

He added, “Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America.”

Trump also pointed out, “Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before.”

He concluded, “Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” and ended his post with, “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

During his campaign, Trump suggested imposing sweeping tariffs of 10% to 20% on nearly all imports. He also considered implementing tariffs exceeding 200% on vehicles made in Mexico, citing the fact that many manufacturing plants south of the border are owned or supported by China.

Scott Bessent, Trump’s choice to head the Treasury Department, has supported the president-elect’s position on tariffs.

“The truth is that tariffs have a long and storied history as both a revenue-raising tool and a way of protecting strategically important industries in the US,” Bessent wrote in a Fox News op-ed earlier this month. “President-elect Trump has added a third leg to the stool: tariffs as a negotiating tool with our trading partners.”

Bessent recently told the Wall Street Journal that implementing Trump’s tariff strategy, which could potentially raise federal revenue by as much as $2.7 trillion, would be one of his key goals upon assuming leadership of the Treasury Department.

{Matzav.com}