President-elect Donald Trump vowed Monday to impose tariffs of 25 percent on both Mexico and Canada on his first day in office as part of an effort to crack down on migration and the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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 post did not specify how he would impose the measure, although he could theoretically tap the so-called International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which grants a president sweeping authority to control economic transactions after declaring an emergency. The move would immediately open up Trump’s tariffs to legal challenges.
