Trump imposes tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

Republican US president imposes 25 percent on goods from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on all imports from China.

The United States has imposed stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, prompting swift retaliatory measures from the country’s North American neighbours.

US President Donald Trump signed three separate executive orders on Saturday, imposing 25 percent on goods from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on all imports from China.

But energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity, would be taxed at a 10 percent rate.

Trump said the tariffs were necessary to “protect Americans” and promised to keep the duties in place until what he called a national emergency in the US over the drug fentanyl and undocumented migration ends.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum immediately ordered retaliatory tariffs and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would put matching 25 percent tariffs on up to $155bn in US imports.