Trump Creates More Confusion On Tariffs

President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday he will delay 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada another month, the latest in a series of conflicting statements about the timeline for those and other tariffs that have created confusion about which duties the White House plans to roll out — and when.

“April 2 ... for everything,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting in the White House, when asked about the planned tariffs on the North American countries. "I'm not stopping the tariffs. Millions of people have died because of the fentanyl that comes over the border," Trump said.

Trump's remarks in the Oval Office come two days after Trump suggested the 25 percent tariffs "are going forward on time, on schedule," on March 4.

Asked for clarification, a White House spokesperson said tariffs on Mexico and Canada are still expected to take effect on Tuesday. "That [timeline] is still intact. He's still reviewing progress," made by Canada and Mexico to address Trump's concerns, said the official, who was granted anonymity to share details of internal discussions. "I think things just got muddled in there," the official added.

"Reciprocal tariffs are still on for April 2," they noted, referring to tariffs Trump has said he plans to impose on all trading partners, based off the trade barriers they impose on U.S. goods.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also said during the meeting that if Canada and Mexico can show "they've done an excellent job" on the issue of fentanyl, then the tariffs could be delayed beyond March 4. But he appeared to suggest the countries could still be hit with tariffs: "The big transaction is April 2."

The White House's shifting pronouncements on trade, however, are creating uncertainty that is beginning to roil financial markets and has set off scrambles in foreign capitals as their leaders seek ways to deter the steepest hikes.

The confusion is sure to complicate meetings with several foreign officials flocking to Washington, D.C., seeking to stave off tariffs from the U.S. president. Top diplomatic and security officials from Mexico are heading to Washington to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week, President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters on Wednesday, adding that preparations for the discussions have taken place for several days.

New U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on his way to the U.S. capital for meetings with Trump later this week, just the latest leader to call or meet with the president to discuss tariffs and other matters. French President Emmanuel Macron was at the White House Monday.

Macron's visit doesn't appear to have yielded much, at least on the trade front. Trump on Wednesday said he is ready to slap a 25 percent tariff on the European Union. “We have made a decision and we’ll be announcing it very soon. It’ll be 25 percent, generally speaking, and that will be on cars and all the things,” he said during the Cabinet meeting, He did not clarify whether the 25 percent was the rate of the reciprocal tariff or whether it would be an additional tariff calculated on top of that.

"The European Union was formed to screw the United States, let's be honest," Trump argued.

The president is "now more intently looking at the EU situation," the White House official confirmed Wednesday.

Canada and Mexico were among the first countries Trump targeted after winning the presidency, promising in November to impose new tariffs on the United States’ North American neighbors as soon as he entered office unless they did more to block undocumented migrants and fentanyl from crossing their borders. He subsequently signed executive orders to raise the duties on all Canadian and Mexican imports to 25 percent, excluding Canadian energy products, which would face a 10 percent tariff, effective Feb. 4. After a flurry of negotiations with Canadian and Mexican leaders, the president agreed to further pause the tariffs for one month — until March 4.

The White House aide confirmed earlier Wednesday that negotiations with Canada and Mexico to suspend the tariffs for longer "are ongoing," and, like Lutnick, kept the door open for further progress on those talks. “As of now, they're still going into effect on [March] 4th, pending any changes or breakthroughs in negotiations.”

They are just a few of the steady drumbeat of trade curbs Trump has threatened since becoming president, which could reshape the U.S.’s relationship with its trading partners.

Trump most recently directed his Commerce Department to conduct an investigation that could lead to new tariffs on copper. That came on the heels of threats to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum — which are commonly sourced from Canada and Mexico — also slated to kick in next month. Trump has also vowed to impose tariffs on imports of autos, lumber, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.