Afrasianet - China , Mexico and Canada responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's order on Saturday imposing heavy tariffs on their exports to the United States.
Trump has called on the three countries to halt the flow of fentanyl and irregular migrants into the United States, sparking a trade war that could undermine global growth and fuel inflation.
Mexico and Canada, the United States' biggest trading partners, immediately pledged to impose counter-tariffs, while China said it would appeal Trump's decision to the World Trade Organization and take other "countermeasures".
In three executive orders, Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, excluding Canadian energy imports, which will be charged 10 percent tariffs and 10 percent tariffs on goods from China.
China
China's government on Sunday denounced Trump's decisions, but left the door open for talks with the United States that could prevent the conflict from escalating.
China's finance and commerce ministries said Beijing would appeal Trump's decision at the World Trade Organization, a symbolic measure, and take "countermeasures" in response to the tariffs that take effect on Tuesday, without specifying the nature of those measures.
China's response stopped short of the immediate escalation that characterized the trade war with Trump during his first term, but rather the tone of carefully calculated remarks used by China in recent weeks.
Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would impose 25 percent tariffs on C$155 billion ($106.5 billion) of U.S. imports in response to U.S. tariffs.
Trudeau told a news conference that C$30 billion in tariffs would take effect from Tuesday, and C$125 billion would take effect after 21 days.
The Canadian prime minister added at the press conference that his country's response will be widespread, and will include products such as alcoholic beverages, fruit and vegetable juices, perfumes, clothing, shoes, household appliances, furniture, sports equipment, wood and plastic.
"We are considering a variety of non-tariff measures in response to the additional U.S. tariffs, including some measures related to vital minerals, energy supply and other partnerships," Trudeau said.
Trudeau stressed that this situation "would harm Canadians economically, while creating significant consequences for the American people."
Addressing the American people, Trudeau added, "The tariffs on Canada will put your jobs at risk, may lead to the closure of U.S. auto assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities, and increase costs to you, including food and fuel prices."
Canada's prime minister said tariffs would also deny Americans access to goods at reasonable prices and violate the free trade agreement between the two countries.
"If President Trump wants to usher in a new golden age for the United States, the best way to do that is through partnering with Canada , not punishing us."
Mexico and Plan B
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had directed her government to implement Plan B after the United States imposed additional tariffs of 25 percent on goods imported from her country.
"Issues cannot be solved by force, but by reason and law," she stressed in a post on the X platform on Saturday, adding that she had directed her economy minister to implement an alternative plan that would ensure tariffs and other economic measures to protect Mexico's interests.
Mexico "strongly rejects White House fabrications that seek to portray the Mexican government as allied with criminal organizations," she said.
She responded to the US accusation that her country had smuggled fentanyl into the United States.
"If the U.S. administration and its institutions really want to address the serious problem of fentanyl consumption in their country, they can combat drug sales on the streets of major cities and the money laundering caused by this illegal activity," she said.
She suggested to US President Donald Trump to establish a cooperative working mechanism that includes the best experts in the field of security and public health, to tackle the problem of smuggling.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump commented on the decision to impose the additional tariffs, saying, "We have to protect Americans, and as president, it is my duty to ensure the safety of all citizens. "During my campaign, I promised to stop the flow of irregular migrants and drugs across our borders, and Americans voted overwhelmingly for that."
He said the decision was implemented through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act "because of the significant threat posed by irregular migrants and drugs that cause death to U.S. citizens, including fentanyl."