President Trump said on Thursday that he would allow both Mexico and Canada to avoid tariffs on most exports to the United States for one month, saying he would exempt products that are traded under the rules of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade pact he signed in his first term.
The move came a day after he granted a 30-day reprieve to automakers, who had complained to the president that his sweeping 25 percent tariffs would cause severe damage to U.S. carmakers.
Mr. Trump has played an intense game of brinkmanship with the North American economy this week, as he levied stiff tariffs on Canada and Mexico, before gradually rolling some of them back. The approach has sent stock markets tumbling and sowed anxiety and confusion among industries that depend on trade with Canada and Mexico, which account for more than a quarter of U.S. imports and nearly a third of U.S. exports.
On Thursday, Mr. Trump signed executive orders authorizing the pause.
Mr. Trump had announced his decision regarding Mexico earlier in the day in a post on Truth Social. But he had not made a similar announcement about Canada, leaving investors, economists and Canadians wondering whether America’s Northern neighbor would still face the levies.
“I can confirm that we will continue to be in a trade war that was launched by the United States for the foreseeable future,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada said after Mr. Trump said he would temporarily exempt Mexico.
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