Trump assures that tariffs on Mexico and Canada will go ahead

U.S. President Donald Trump said he expects announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico to go ahead next month as scheduled, after an initial month-long delay after both countries promised to strengthen border security.

The tariffs, of 25% on goods from both countries, except for Canadian crude oil, taxed at 10%, "will go ahead on time, as scheduled," Trump said on Monday at a joint press conference on the occasion of the visit of his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

In addition to the tariffs on neighboring countries, which are scheduled to come into effect on March 4, Trump also reiterated that he will move forward with the "reciprocal tariffs" plan, which foresees the application of the same rates that trading partners charge the US, also promising to retaliate on non-tariff barriers, such as VAT applied to US goods.

The reciprocal tariffs, which are still being studied because they are country-specific, are expected to be announced in early April, according to what Trump has previously announced. "It will be very good for our country, our country will be extremely liquid and wealthy again," Trump said at the White House on Monday.