The U.S. president says tariffs on goods coming from Canada will be going ahead “on time, on schedule” next week.
Donald Trump made the comments to reporters during a news conference at the Oval Office on Monday afternoon.
“We’re on time with the tariffs, and it seems like that’s moving along very rapidly. We’ve been mistreated very badly by many countries, not just Canada and Mexico,” Trump told reporters.
“So the tariffs will go forward, yes, and we’re going to make up a lot of territory.”
A 25 per cent tariff on most Canadian goods — except a lower 10 per cent tariff on energy — was set to take effect on Feb. 3.
However, in an eleventh-hour deal between the countries, the United States agreed to pause the tariffs for “at least” 30 days.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada made a number of new commitments in addition to its $1.3-billion border plan.
They included appointing a fentanyl czar, listing cartels as terrorists, ensuring 24/7 eyes on the border and launching a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.
Trudeau said he had also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and will be backing it with $200 million.
But it appears those new efforts were not enough to stop Trump from considering the tariffs altogether.
“It’ll be very good for our country. Our country will be extremely liquid and rich again,” the president added.
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