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Soon after United States president Donald Trump kicked off his promise of protectionist trade policies by imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, he threatened to impose steeper tariffs elsewhere, telling reporters that it will “definitely happen” with the European Union and possibly with the United Kingdom as well, news agency AP reported.

Addressing a press meet, Trump said that Americans could feel “some pain” from the emerging trade war triggered by his tariffs against America’s top three trade partners, while claiming that Canada would “cease to exist” without its trade surplus with the US, according to the report.

The trade penalties signed by the US president on Saturday caused a mix of panic, anger and uncertainty, threatening to rupture partnership on trade in North America, and further straining relations with China.

Trump threatens to cut funding to South Africa

US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off funding to South Africa, citing concerns over the treatment of “certain classes of people” and land confiscation.

In a Truth Social post, Trump stated that he would be “cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” The move comes after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act into law, which allows for land expropriation without compensation.

The US had obligated nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa in 2023, and the funding cut could have significant implications for the country.

Trump implemented a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, and a 10 per cent additional tariff on China. Announcing the penalties over a social media post, Trump said, “This was done through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our citizens, including fentanyl. We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all. I made a promise on my Campaign to stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs from pouring across the Borders, and Americans overwhelmingly voted in favor of it.”

As quoted by AP, Trump, in another social media post, wrote: “Will there be some pain? Yes, maybe (and maybe not!).” “But we will make America great again, and it will all be worth the price that must be paid.”

His administration has not mentioned how high that price could be or what improvements would need to be seen in stopping illegal immigration and the smuggling of fentanyl to merit the removal of the tariffs that Trump imposed under the legal justification of an economic emergency, the report noted. The tariffs will be launched on Tuesday.

Canada’s response

Brushing aside the retaliatory measures from Canada, Trump has said, “If they want to play the game, I don’t mind. We can play the game all they want.”

“Canadians are perplexed,” said the country’s US ambassador, Kirsten Hillman. “We view ourselves as your neighbor, your closest friend, your ally.”

Trump is placing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, with a 10 per cent tax on oil, natural gas and electricity. Canada, on the other hand, is imposing 25 per cent tariffs on more than $155 billion Canadian (US$105 billion) on US products, including alcohol and fruit, as per reports.

Trump railed against Canada’s trade surplus with the United States: “We don’t need anything they have. We have unlimited Energy, should make our own Cars, and have more Lumber than we can ever use.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, has encouraged Canadians to buy more Canadian goods, saying that Trump’s moves will only cause pain across North America.

More than 75% of Canada’s exports go to the US. Canada will first target alcohol, cosmetics and paper products; a second round later will include passenger vehicles, trucks, steel and aluminium products, certain fruits and vegetables, beef, pork, dairy products and more. Canada is the largest export market for 36 states and Mexico is the largest trading partner of the US, AP report highlighted.

Mexico in talks with Canada

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, also announced new tariffs and suggested the US should do more within its own borders to address drug addiction. She and Trudeau spoke after Trump’s announcement and agreed “to enhance the strong bilateral relations” between Canada and Mexico, according to the prime minister’s office.

What is China upto?

Responding to the tariffs, China stated that its position is firm and consistent, and that the unilateral tariff hikes severely violate WTO rules. “This move cannot solve the US problems at home and, more importantly, does not benefit either side, still less the world,” China said in a statement.

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