Washington, D.C. (Feb 27, 2025) – President Donald Trump is reviving his tariff playbook, brandishing steep import taxes against even America’s closest neighbors. He pledged to impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico effective March 4 – ostensibly to strong-arm them into stemming the flow of fentanyl and undocumented migrants.

“I don’t see any progress…not on drugs,” Trump snapped, justifying the drastic move as necessary to stop the “scourge” of narcotics entering the U.S.

Trade watchers are eye-rolling at what they call a high-stakes bluff. Earlier this month, Trump made a nearly identical tariff threat, only to yank it at the last minute after talks. This time, he’s upping the ante. Alongside the North America salvo, Trump confirmed a new 10% blanket tariff on Chinese imports – doubling down on an earlier duty and bumping the total tariff on many Chinese goods to 20%. Beijing balked, with officials blasting the “unilateral tariffs” as ineffective and warning that U.S. consumers will pay the price.

The aggressive tariff noise is rattling markets and allies alike. Trump lobbed veiled threats at Europe too, scolding France’s president in person about trade and hinting at more to come. Observers note a familiar pattern: talk tough, then maybe dial back. Indeed, even Trump’s team seems unsure how firm the March 4 deadline is, injecting confusion into an already volatile situation.

Critics at home aren’t sold on punishing U.S. allies. Polls show most Americans oppose slapping new tariffs on Canada and Mexico, fearing price hikes and soured relations. But with Trump’s new administration keen to project strength – and score political points – economic prudence may be taking a back seat. Trade partners are bracing for a bumpy ride, unsure if this is high-stakes poker or the real deal. Either way, Trump’s tariff saber-rattling has put North America on notice, leaving businesses and consumers caught in the crossfire.