President Donald Trump’s economic adviser Kevin Hassett revealed in an interview with CNBC that the Trump administration has engaged in discussions with Mexico, Canada, and China regarding the tariffs set to take effect soon. Hassett mentioned that these discussions could potentially lead to the removal of the tariffs, which are scheduled to be implemented at midnight ET on Tuesday.
Hassett expressed optimism about the ongoing conversations, stating that positive dialogues had taken place over the weekend and were expected to continue between the leaders of the involved countries. He emphasized that President Trump would evaluate the proposals put forth by these nations before making a decision on the tariffs.
The tariffs, as outlined in the executive order signed by Trump, were linked to the control of fentanyl and undocumented immigration into the United States. However, the order did not provide specific guidelines on how Canada, Mexico, and China could meet these requirements. While Hassett characterized the situation as a 'drug war' rather than a 'trade war,' Trump had previously indicated a lack of interest in negotiations and expressed skepticism about making significant progress in tariff discussions due to trade imbalances with these countries.
It remains uncertain what actions, if any, the targeted countries could take to avoid the tariffs, as the final decision rests with President Trump. Hassett reiterated that Trump would have the ultimate authority in determining the outcome and timing of any potential changes to the tariff policy.
