Biden Urges Trump to Rethink Tariff Plans Amid Tensions with Canada and Mexico

President Joe Biden expressed concern on Thursday over President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to impose new tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China.

Speaking in Nantucket, Massachusetts, Biden called the proposed tariffs “counterproductive” and urged Trump to reconsider.

“I hope he rethinks it. I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do,” Biden said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong relationships with neighboring countries. “We’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies, Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships.”

Earlier in the week, Trump announced his intention to sign an executive order imposing 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods and an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports.

He stated that these measures aim to pressure the three countries into enhancing border security and curbing the export of fentanyl to the United States.

“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long-simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The announcement has already sparked backlash. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded on Tuesday by warning of retaliatory measures. “One tariff would be followed by another in response, and so on until we put at risk common businesses,” Sheinbaum said.

Despite the rising tensions, Trump described his recent phone call with Sheinbaum as “very productive” on Truth Social, claiming that the Mexican president had agreed to tighten border security measures.

“Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately,” Trump wrote after the call. “THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD STOPPING THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF THE USA. Thank you!!!”

However, Sheinbaum quickly countered Trump’s claims on the social media platform X. She clarified that Mexico has not agreed to such a measure and instead emphasized her country’s comprehensive strategy for managing migration.

“In our conversation with President Trump, I explained to him the comprehensive strategy that Mexico has followed to address the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights,” Sheinbaum wrote.

Biden’s criticism of the tariffs highlights concerns about potential economic fallout. Experts warn that escalating tariff disputes could disrupt trade between the U.S. and its neighbors, jeopardizing industries reliant on cross-border commerce.

Additionally, the imposition of tariffs on China may intensify existing economic tensions between the two nations.

The debate over tariffs comes at a critical time as Trump prepares to assume the presidency.

While his administration views the tariffs as a tool to enforce stricter border policies, opponents argue that such measures risk alienating key allies and harming economic stability.