President Trump has announced a temporary suspension of new tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The pause, effective until April 2, affects about 50% of Mexican imports and 38% of Canadian imports under the trade deal.
Trump made the decision following a conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum earlier Thursday (March 6, 2025), citing it as a gesture of “respect” for Sheinbaum’s cooperation on key issues, including fentanyl trafficking.
“We’ll continue to work together, particularly on migration and safety, including reducing illegal fentanyl crossings into the U.S. and weapons into Mexico,” Sheinbaum said in Spanish in a post on X.
While tariffs on USMCA-compliant Mexican imports are now on hold, those on Canadian goods remain in place after Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau failed to reach an agreement on Wednesday. However, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC that the White House is considering delaying all tariffs for USMCA-compliant goods.
The decision to temporarily halt tariffs signals a shift in the administration’s approach as it navigates trade negotiations with its North American partners. With the April 2 deadline approaching, further adjustments could follow as discussions continue.
