Donald Trump announces tariffs on imported agricultural products starting April 2

US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Monday (March 3) that new tariffs on imported agricultural products will take effect on April 2, urging American farmers to ramp up domestic production.

“To the Great Farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricultural product to be sold INSIDE of the United States,” Trump wrote. “Tariffs will go on external product on April 2nd. Have fun!”

Impact on domestic agriculture

The proposed tariffs are expected to raise the cost of imported agricultural goods, potentially benefiting US farmers by increasing demand for locally produced crops and livestock. However, they may also lead to possible trade tensions with agricultural exporters.

Trump’s announcement signals a renewed focus on domestic production and economic protectionism. His statement did not specify which agricultural products would be affected.

Trump announces 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico

On March 3, Trump declared that he would impose a 25% tax on imports from Canada and Mexico, set to take effect from March 4. The new tariff measures extend to various goods, including automobiles, as Trump pushes for more manufacturing to be done in the United States.

Trump also announced new tariffs on Chinese imports, adding another 10% tariff on goods from China, which will be imposed on top of the initial 10% he implemented last month.

Lower taxes on energy imports

While the tariff on general imports from Canada and Mexico is set at 25%, energy products such as oil, natural gas, and electricity will be taxed at a reduced rate of 10%. This move is part of Trump's broader economic strategy to incentivize domestic production while retaining access to essential energy imports.

Trump's defiant Stance on Mexico and Canada

Trump expressed that there was no possibility for Mexico or Canada to prevent the 25% tariffs from taking effect. He pointed to the necessity for these nations to establish manufacturing plants within the US as the only way to avoid the levies.

"They're going to have to have a tariff. So what they have to do is build their car plants, frankly, and other things in the United States, in which case they have no tariffs," Trump stated at the White House.

No deal on fentanyl issue

Trump also emphasised that there was “no room left” for negotiations to avert the tariffs through actions related to controlling fentanyl trafficking. Despite ongoing discussions about curbing fentanyl flows from Mexico into the US, the president made it clear that the tariffs would proceed as planned, without compromise on this issue.

These tariffs mark another chapter in Trump's ongoing trade policies, which have focused on protecting American industries and reshaping trade dynamics with key global partners.