Washington, D.C., February 24, 2025 – Canada and Mexico are set to intensify efforts this week to demonstrate to the Trump administration that their enhanced border security measures are effectively curbing fentanyl trafficking and migrant flows.
The talks come ahead of a March 4 deadline after which President Trump may impose 25% tariffs on over $918 billion in U.S. imports from the two countries, spanning products from autos to energy.
According to trade lawyer Dan Ujczo, the negotiations—along with forthcoming reports from the Department of Homeland Security—will help determine whether the tariff suspension can be extended. “There’s progress being made on the security front,” Ujczo said, though he cautioned that it would be overly optimistic to expect the tariffs to be completely rescinded.
In recent months, both nations have bolstered their border security. Mexico has deployed up to 10,000 national guard troops along its northern border, while Canadian authorities have taken steps such as appointing a new fentanyl czar and reclassifying drug cartels as terrorist entities. In December, Canada also announced a C$1.3 billion increase in border security spending in response to the tariff threat.
British Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has maintained close contact with President Trump, discussing joint efforts to curb fentanyl flows and avert the imposition of tariffs. Trudeau has even threatened retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports valued at C$155 billion, including American beer, wine, and bourbon, though he stressed that Canada remains committed to “doing the work” to prevent any new tariff measures.
The tariff discussions follow Trump’s broader pattern of using tariff threats as leverage in trade negotiations. In addition to the pending border measures, the administration has raised tariffs on steel and aluminum to a flat 25% and signaled plans to target autos, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors, with potential reciprocal tariffs in response.
A significant challenge for U.S. border officials remains the “de minimis” loophole, which currently exempts low-value packages (under $800) from duty-free status. This exemption has allowed shipments containing fentanyl and its precursor chemicals from Canada, Mexico, and China to enter the United States with minimal scrutiny, complicating efforts to tighten border controls.
As the March 4 deadline approaches, the outcomes of this week’s talks will be critical for the highly integrated North American economy, with both Canada and Mexico working diligently to show that their enhanced border security and enforcement measures are making a measurable difference.
U.S. border czar says fentanyl should be considered a WMD....
The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan seems to be adopting a balanced foreign policy as it engages with Western and regional powers in a new round...
Kazakhstan has announced its readiness to take part in the creation of a Turkic large language model, a joint initiative designed to unite the scienti...
U.S. states this week warned food aid recipients that their benefits may not be distributed in November if the federal government shutdown stretches i...
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia will not bow to pressure from the United States or any other country, warning that any strikes d...
Canada’s forestry heartland is fuming after the U.S. announced fresh tariffs on lumber that are now higher than those imposed on Russia — a country under Western sanctions for its war in Ukraine.
Poland has banned pro-Russian Moldovan politician Irina Vlah from its territory for five years, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, accusing her of helping Moscow interfere in Moldova's parliamentary elections.
A flock of Canadian ostriches set to be culled, after two dead birds tested positive for avian flu, has been granted a last-minute stay of execution from Canada's highest court - for now.
Canada has signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Indonesia, marking Ottawa’s first-ever bilateral trade deal with an ASEAN member.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan seems to be adopting a balanced foreign policy as it engages with Western and regional powers in a new round of diplomatic outreach.
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia will not bow to pressure from the United States or any other country, warning that any strikes deep inside Russian territory would be met with a very serious, possibly overwhelming, response.
The head coach of an National Basketball Association (NBA) team, a basketballer athlete and members of the alleged crime families were part of more than thirty people arrested in an FBI crackdown on illegal sports betting and rigged poker games.
Azerbaijan and Indonesia are expected to take leading roles in a planned international force to be deployed in Gaza, Israel Hayom has reported, after Israel opposed Turkish participation in the mission.
Britain’s King Charles and Pope Leo held a historic joint prayer in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel on Thursday, the first such act of worship between an English monarch and a Catholic pontiff since King Henry VIII’s break from Rome in 1534.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment