THE RETURN OF TARIFFS: DONALD TRUMP AND HIS TRADE WAR

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has confirmed that as of March 4, 2025, the previously imposed tariffs on the United States and Mexico will come into effect, with a 25% increase. Additionally, there will be a 10% tariff increase on China on the same day.

These drastic measures had been paused at the beginning of February, but according to a statement issued on February 27, it was announced that they will be reinstated. Through his Truth Social platform, Trump declared in a post: "Drugs continue to flood our country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels. A large percentage of these drugs, many in the form of fentanyl, are manufactured 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 past two decades. The families of the victims are devastated and, in many cases, practically destroyed."

He added, "Until it is stopped or seriously limited, the proposed tariffs, scheduled to take effect on March 4, will indeed be applied as planned."

The tariff increase alarms not only the neighboring countries of the U.S. and China but also global trade and different financial markets, posing a risk for investors worldwide.

According to El Economista, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutinck stated that if Canada and Mexico demonstrated "excellent work" regarding the issue of fentanyl and border security—another topic of great interest to the new Trump administration—the tariffs could be postponed again. Despite Lutnick's statement, Donald Trump insists that there is no turning back.

Meanwhile, the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, will seek to engage in dialogue with President Donald Trump. During the “People’s Morning Conference,” Sheinbaum Pardo mentioned that she hopes to communicate with Trump in order to announce, on March 3, a successful negotiation with the U.S. government.

However, these tariff changes and policies are not new to the Trump administration. The President is known for making economic decisions that generate global concern. These policies not only affect Mexicans but also American citizens, who would suffer from the high price increases of various everyday consumer products imported from Mexico or its northern neighbor, Canada. In this tariff war, everyone would be hurt.

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