Trump Pauses Tariffs on Canada and Mexico as Border Security Talks Continue

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump has agreed to a 30-day pause on his planned tariffs against Canada and Mexico after both countries pledged to enhance border enforcement efforts. The move comes after days of economic uncertainty that had North America on the brink of a trade war.

The agreement provides a temporary cooling-off period, allowing negotiations to continue without immediate economic repercussions. Trump had previously threatened tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods, citing concerns over border security, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.

“I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30-day period to see whether or not a final economic deal with Canada can be structured,” Trump posted on social media. He emphasized his stance with the phrase: “FAIRNESS FOR ALL!”

Canada and Mexico Step Up Efforts

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the pause in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying the two countries would work together to address U.S. concerns. He announced several measures, including:

• Appointing a fentanyl czar to combat drug smuggling.

• Designating Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations.

• Launching a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to tackle organized crime, fentanyl trafficking, and money laundering.

Mexico had already reached a similar agreement, committing to increase border security measures and crack down on drug smuggling networks.

China Tariffs Still Moving Forward

While the trade tensions between North American partners have eased for now, Trump's administration is still moving forward with a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, set to take effect Tuesday. The president is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming days.

Economic Uncertainty Lingers

Despite the temporary truce, uncertainty remains over the long-term effects of Trump’s tariff strategy. The president has already hinted at imposing new tariffs on European imports, raising concerns among global investors and economic leaders.

While a full-scale trade war appears to have been avoided for now, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether these agreements lead to lasting solutions”or if economic turmoil is still on the horizon.