Trump Takes Bold Step: Pauses Tariffs on Canada & Mexico to Boost US Automakers

 In an effort to provide clarity on his latest tariff negotiations, former President Donald Trump has defended his decision to implement a temporary one-month pause on the 25% levy imposed on imports from Canada and Mexico. Speaking exclusively with FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo, Trump explained that the move was designed to support American automakers while maintaining balanced trade relationships with North American partners.

A Short-Term Strategy for Long-Term Gains

"I wanted to help Mexico and Canada to a certain extent. We're a big, big country, and they do a lot of their business with us, whereas in our case, it's much less significant. We do very little with Canada by comparison. And I wanted to help the American carmakers until April 2nd. April 2nd, it becomes all reciprocal," Trump stated during the interview.

He emphasized that this was a short-term measure aimed at ensuring a fair playing field under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). "For the good of the American carmakers and the USMCA, I thought it would be a fair thing to do," he continued. "And so I gave them a little bit of a break for this short period of time."

Temporary Exemptions and Potential Future Increases

On Thursday, Trump announced that most goods from Canada and Mexico covered under the USMCA would be exempt from the newly implemented 25% tariffs for the next month. While the tariffs initially took effect earlier this week, they are now scheduled to be reinstated on April 2. In response, Canada also announced its intention to place reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports.

However, Trump suggested that these tariffs could be subject to further adjustments. "The tariffs could go up as time goes by, and they may go up," he told Bartiromo. "For years, the globalists, the big globalists, have been ripping off the United States. They've been taking money away from the United States. And all we're doing is getting some of it back, and we're going to treat our country fairly."

Tariffs as Part of a Larger Trade and Security Strategy

As part of his broader economic and national security agenda, Trump reiterated his commitment to imposing tariffs on America’s trade partners. He also linked the issue to his efforts in combating the fentanyl crisis, citing concerns that the drug is entering the U.S. via imports from Mexico and Canada, often originating from China.

"This country has been ripped off from every nation in the world, every company outside in the world. We've been ripped off at levels never seen before. And all we're going to do is get it back. We're going to get a lot of it back. We're not going to let people take advantage of us anymore," he asserted.

With the temporary tariff pause set to expire on April 2, businesses, automakers, and trade analysts will be closely watching the administration’s next moves, as well as potential retaliatory measures from Canada and Mexico. The decision marks yet another key moment in Trump’s broader push for stronger trade policies aimed at prioritizing American industries.