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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Lauren Aratani

What are tariffs and why is Trump levying them on Canada, Mexico and China?

An image of shipping containers stacked at an airport.
US companies imported over $1.2tn from Canada, Mexico and China in 2023. Photograph: Steve Helber/AP

There are still more than 50 days left until Donald Trump takes office, but he has already laid the ground for a trade war that could shake the global economy.

Trump announced on Monday that he will sign an executive order placing a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10% tariff on imports from China, in purported retaliation for drugs and migrants crossing US borders.

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