TMTPOST -- The Trump administration could impose 50% of cumulative tariffs on Canada and Mexico next month.

Credit：Xinhua News Agency

The new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports would be piled on top of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods that have been paused until March 4, White House confirmed on Tuesday. "If the prior tariffs that were paused are reinstated, they would stack on each other, so 25 per cent [plus] 25 per cent," a White House official confirmed to CBC News.

Canada has not been told about the stacking of the tariffs, a government source told Reuters, adding that it "sounds plausible."

U.S. president Donald Trump signed on proclamation to levy 25% tariffs on all stell and aluminum imports into the United States from March 12. All imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, EU countries, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom shall be subject to the additional 25% ad valorem rate of duty, according to a proclamation released by White House on Monday. Imports of aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, EU countries, and the UK shall be subject to revised 25% tariffs, per another proclamation released on Tuesday.

"This is a big deal. This is the beginning of making America rich again," Trump said when signing the proclamations in the Oval Office. "It's time for our great industries to come back to America." The president added that there will be no exceptions for these tariffs.

“Steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, the United States’ closest ally, would be totally unjustified,” François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, said in a statement Monday night. “Canadian steel and aluminum support key industries in the US from defense, shipbuilding, energy to automotive.”

Trump last week agreed to delay implementation of additional tariffs on Mexico and Canada after his phone calls with leaders of these neighbour countries.

In a post on February 3 on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to immediately pause the anticipated U.S. tariffs for one month after both had a “very friendly conversation”, wherein Sheinbaum agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the border to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into the United States.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on the X platform the proposed U.S. tariffs would be paused for at least 30 days as a result of “a good with President Trump.” The Canadian government will implement a 1.3 billion-Candian dollar border plan to reinforce the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhance coordination with our American partners, and increase resources to stop the flow of fentanyl.  

Trudeau said Canada will appoint a Fentanyl Czar, list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, and launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. The prime minister also signed a a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with 200 million Canadian dollars.

Trump followed suit on Truth Social shortly after Trudeau’s post, writing that Canada tariffs announced recently will be paused for a 30 day period "to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!"