Canada and Mexico have ordered retaliatory measures against the US after President Donald Trump placed sweeping tariffs on goods from its two neighbours and China.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would "not back down in standing up for Canadians", but warned of real consequences for people on both sides of the border.
He set out "far-reaching" tariffs of 25 percent, which will first come into effect on 30bn-worth US goods on Tuesday, and another 125bn in 21 days to give Canadian firms time to adjust.
It comes after Trump signed executive orders implementing 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent tariffs on goods from China, potentially setting up rapid price increases for American consumers.
The orders include retaliation clauses, which means the U.S. will increase tariffs if the countries respond with similar moves, Bloomberg reports.
Trump aims to use tariffs as leverage to encourage those countries to take more action against illegal immigration and the smuggling of chemicals used in fentanyl production. The president suggested he might mitigate the impact on oil imports with a reduced rate.
“Starting tomorrow, those tariffs will be in place,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Friday. “These are promises made and promises kept by the president.”
Key Points
- Mexico and Canada order retaliatory messages in trade war with US
- White House says tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China will begin tomorrow
- Trump repeats 100% tariffs threat to Brics nations
- Canada and Mexico brace for new Trump tariffs as Saturday deadline nears
- DEI was condemning U.S. to hell, Trump says
Mexico and Canada announce tariff retaliations as Trump sparks new trade war
14:00
,
Mike Bedigan
Both Mexico and Canada have both announced retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., after Donald Trump signed an order imposing sweeping levies against both nations.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced their decisions on Saturday, initiating what is likely to be an economic standoff with America and its two largest trading partners.=
Read the full story here:
Exclusive: ‘Utterly terrifying’ poll reveals Elon Musk effect pushing far-right AfD closer to power in Germany
13:30
,
David Maddox
A new poll has fuelled growing fears that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could be on the cusp of winning power.
The findings show billionaire X social media platform owner Elon Musk has helped catapult AfD into second place with their leader Alice Weidel the favourite to become the country’s new chancellor.
The survey results have been described as “utterly terrifying” by Labour MP Blair McDougall who sits on the Commons foreign affairs select committee, who has branded Musk “the most irresponsible man on Earth.”
China calls Trump tariffs a 'serious violation' and vows to respond in kind
13:00
,
Alexander Butler
Trump administration slams Selena Gomez in new video after sobbing over deportations
12:30
,
Brittany Miller
The White House has responded to Selena Gomez’s Instagram video where she tearfully reacted to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across the country.
Continue reading:
Watch: Fox News hosts say Trump played ‘consoler-in-chief’ after he linked deadly DC crash to DEI
11:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
Mexico 'categorically reject' White House claim of alliances with criminal groups
11:24
,
Holly Evans
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had instructed her economy secretary to implement a response that includes retaliatory tariffs and other measures in defence of Mexico's interests.
"We categorically reject the White House's slander that the Mexican government has alliances with criminal organisations, as well as any intention of meddling in our territory," Ms Sheinbaum wrote in a post on X.
"If the United States government and its agencies wanted to address the serious fentanyl consumption in their country, they could fight the sale of drugs on the streets of their major cities, which they don't do and the laundering of money that this illegal activity generates that has done so much harm to its population."
Mexico and Canada order retaliatory messages in trade war with US
11:04
,
Holly Evans
Mexico and Canada have ordered retaliatory measures against the US after President Donald Trump placed sweeping tariffs on goods from its two neighbours and China.
Mr Trump posted on social media that the tariffs are necessary "to protect Americans", pressing the three nations to do more to curb the manufacture and export of illicit fentanyl and for Canada and Mexico to reduce illegal immigration into the US.
The action fulfilled one of Mr Trump's commitments to voters, but threw the global economy and his political mandate to lower prices into turmoil.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in response that Canadian duties on 30 billion dollars (£24 billion) worth of trade in American alcohol and fruit will take effect on Tuesday when the US tariffs begin.
He opened his address to Canadians with a message aimed at American consumers.
"It will have real consequences for you, the American people," he said, saying it will result in higher prices on groceries and other goods.
Mr Trudeau channelled the views of many Canadians feeling betrayed by their neighbour and long-time ally, reminding Americans that Canadian troops fought alongside them in Afghanistan.
"The actions taken today by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together," Mr Trudeau said, warning in French that it could bring about "dark times" for many people.
ICYMI: Somalia airstrikes targeted senior ‘ISIS attack planner,’ Trump says
10:30
,
Paul Farrell, Tara Copp, Aamer Mahdani
Watch: Reform chair hits out at Trump for 'political point scoring' after Washington DC crash
09:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
ICYMI: Trump could halt congestion pricing that has helped unsnarl Manhattan's busy streets
08:30
,
Ariana Baio
Donald Trump could halt New York’s controversial congestion pricing program despite it successfully unsnarling many of the city’s bumper-to-bumper streets.
The Department of Transportation is considering revoking the federal authorization that the Biden administration approved last year which gave the program the green light, The New York Times reported on Thursday.
Read more:
Will CBS News' parent company settle Trump’s ‘frivolous’ 60 Minutes lawsuit to secure huge merger?
07:30
,
Justin Baragona
Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, is currently in discussions with Donald Trump’s legal team about settling the president’s $10 billion lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview that the network says is “completely without merit,” and legal experts have labeled “frivolous and dangerous.”
Read more:
Trump rocks FBI by telling senior officials to resign or be fired as fears grow over retribution under Kash Patel
06:30
,
Gustaf Kilander
Top officials at the FBI have been told to retire or be fired in the next few days as fears brew within the nation’s top law enforcement agency over the possible appointment of Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the new director.
Read more:
Mexico's president calls on Google to identify US as 'América Mexicana’
05:30
,
Mary Papenfuss
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has blasted Google for kowtowing to Donald Trump by changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico – and wants the United States to be identified as “América Mexicana.”
Read more:
What is DEI? The diversity scheme Trump is blaming for Washington DC crash
04:30
,
Madeline Sherratt
Since taking office on 20 January, Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders aimed at dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the federal government and the private sector.
While Trump's orders have been celebrated by some supporters and allies, they have been criticized by advocacy groups who say they might deepen inequities and undo decades of progress made to enshrine civil rights protections for marginalized groups.
On Thursday, the president baselessly tried to blame the Washington DC plane crash that has killed 67 people on DEI diversity measures.
Read more:
Watch: Nigel Farage compares Reform polling rise to Donald Trump's election victory
03:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
Mexico and Canada announce tariff retaliations as Trump sparks new trade war
03:09
,
Mike Bedigan
Both Mexico and Canada have both announced retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., after Donald Trump signed an order imposing sweeping levies against both nations.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced their decisions on Saturday, initiating what is likely to be an economic standoff with America and its two largest trading partners.
Read the full story here:
Trump strips travel reimbursement for troops seeking abortions and treatment
02:30
,
Lolita C. Baldor
The Defense Department will no longer reimburse service members for travel out of state to get reproductive health care, including abortions and fertility treatments, according to a new memo.
Read more:
Elon Musk dropped nearly $300M supporting Donald Trump in 2024
00:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, spent more than $290 million supporting Donald Trump and his MAGA allies on the campaign trail last year.
The staggering figure was revealed after Musk submitted new filings to the Federal Election Commission covering the last five weeks of 2024. Prior filings reported in December had Musk’s total at more than $250 million.
Musk’s latest filings include records showing he put more than $11 million into his America PAC on New Year’s Eve for his “petition incentives.” Musk’s end-of-year contributions were related to the $1 million giveaway for registered voters who signed a petition on his PAC’s website in the final weeks of the presidential race, CNN reports.
Read more:
Trump signs orders imposing tariffs
Saturday 1 February 2025 22:54
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump signed executive orders Saturday implementing tariffs on imports from China, Canada and Mexico.
The orders include retaliation clauses, which means the U.S. will increase tariffs if the countries respond with similar moves, Bloomberg reports.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the move.
“It would be nice if Donald Trump could start focusing on getting the prices down instead of making them go up,” Schumer said in a statement.
“All tariffs are not created equal. Donald Trump is aiming his new tariffs at Mexico, Canada, and China but they will likely hit Americans in their wallets. I am concerned these new tariffs will further drive up costs for American consumers.”
EXCLUSIVE: Lisa Murkowski rips Trump's comments on disability and diversity
Saturday 1 February 2025 22:30
,
Eric Garcia
Senator Lisa Murkowski ripped President Donald Trump's comments blaming disability and diversity hires for the deadly American Airlines-helicopter crash.
The Alaska Republican's attack come after Trump blamed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices for the crash near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. Specifically, the president criticized the Federal Aviation Administration's recruitment program for people with intellectual disabilities.
Murkowski told The Independent that she felt awful for the families and everyone involved.
Keep reading:
Pamela Anderson discloses fee she received to attend Donald Trump’s birthday as a Playmate
Saturday 1 February 2025 21:29
,
Roisin O'Connor
Pamela Anderson has recalled how she was allegedly once paid to attend Donald Trump’s birthday party as a Playmate.
The former Baywatch star first rose to prominence after being selected as the February 1990 Playboy Playmate of the month, and went on to feature regularly on the magazine’s cover.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live this week, Anderson spoke about her critically acclaimed performance in Gia Coppola’s 2024 drama film The Last Showgirl and her days as a Playboy star.
Keep reading:
Trump administration slams Selena Gomez in new video after sobbing over deportations
Saturday 1 February 2025 20:30
,
Brittany Miller
The White House has responded to Selena Gomez’s Instagram video where she tearfully reacted to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across the country.
Read more:
Catch up: Trump says sweeping 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada start today
Saturday 1 February 2025 13:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump said Friday afternoon that he will impose tariffs on imported goods from Mexico, Canada and China starting Saturday, a move that’s expected to raise the prices Americans pay for goods coming from those countries.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump claimed he was imposing the import taxes — which are paid by American companies and passed on to consumers — because U.S. allies Mexico and Canada were “sending massive amounts of fentanyl” into the country that he claimed had originated in China. He also cited trade deficits as a justification for the import tax increases.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, D.C., and Ariana Baio reports from New York.
ANALYSIS: Mark Robinson is not running for re-election – here’s why that's bad news for Trump
Saturday 1 February 2025 13:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Eric Garcia explains how North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis has had to appeal to the Trumpian right to avoid a primary challenge, but now Robinson’s departure gives him an opening to pivot to the center and sink some of Trump’s nominees.
Hegseth refuses to rule out military strikes on Mexico
Saturday 1 February 2025 12:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has refused to rule out military action in Mexico, saying that “all options will be on the table” when dealing with foreign terrorist organizations.
Hegseth warned on Fox News that there would be a “shift” in military focus toward the securing of America’s borders and the protection of civilians.
On his first day in office Donald Trump signed an executive order designating Mexican cartels and other criminal organizations as foreign terrorists, in an effort to apply pressure on Mexico to control its illegal drug trade.
The order also gives the administration more power to impose economic penalties and travel restrictions, as well as potentially to even take military action in foreign countries.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Fears of retribution grow as Trump rocks FBI by telling senior officials to resign or be fired
Saturday 1 February 2025 11:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Top officials at the FBI have been told to retire or be fired in the next few days as fears brew within the nation’s top law enforcement agency over the possible appointment of Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the new director.
More than 20 heads of FBI field offices, including in Miami and Washington D.C., have been told to leave the agency, according to NBC News. Top executives have been told they would be demoted or reassigned if they choose to stay. The executives are in charge of criminal, national security, and cyber probes. Since they’re civil servants, they cannot be fired without cause.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.
ANALYSIS: This was the week Trump's honeymoon ended
Saturday 1 February 2025 10:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Eric Garcia writes:
Every president enjoys a “honeymoon phase,” with some lasting longer than others. Barack Obama had a relatively long one amid the euphoria of the United States electing its first Black president, but those feelings began to dissipate toward the summer amid the Great Recession. Joe Biden’s lasted until the U.S. exit from Afghanistan and inflation began to hit Americans’ pocketbooks.
But Trump already seems to show signs of weakness.
Continue reading...
What is DEI, the diversity scheme Trump blames for DC air crash?
Saturday 1 February 2025 08:15
,
Madeline Sherratt
Since taking office on 20 January, Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders aimed at dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the federal government and the private sector.
While Trump's orders have been celebrated by some supporters and allies, they have been criticized by advocacy groups who say they might deepen inequities and undo decades of progress made to enshrine civil rights protections for marginalized groups.
On Thursday, the president baselessly tried to blame the Washington DC plane crash that has killed 67 people on DEI diversity measures.
Below we look at what DEI is and what the president has said about it.
Trump repeats 100% tariffs threat to Brics nations
Saturday 1 February 2025 07:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump attempted to renew his threat against a bloc of nine nations in case they tried to undermine the US dollar.
He threatened economic retaliation if these “seemingly hostile countries” moved away from the dollar, Mr Trump said on Truth Social in a statement nearly identical to one he posted on 30 November.
Maroosha Muzaffar reports.
ICYMI: Kash Patel exasperates senators at confirmation hearing
Saturday 1 February 2025 06:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump’s pick to be FBI director, Kash Patel, frustrated several Democratic senators during his confirmation hearing Thursday as he dodged questions on January 6, his previous grand jury testimony, and who won the 2020 election.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Gabbard refuses to call Edward Snowden a ‘traitor’
Saturday 1 February 2025 05:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, was repeatedly asked to explain why she sought a pardon for Edward Snowden, the former government contractor who leaked thousands of classified documents revealing the scope of the nation’s surveillance programs.
Gabbard — a former Democratic congresswoman turned Trump ally accused of routinely amplifying Russian propaganda and defending Syria’s Bashar al-Assad — also refused to call Snowden a “traitor” during her confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, facing questions from members of both parties about her past praise.
Alex Woodward reports.
ICYMI: Murkowski rips Trump's comments on disability and diversity
Saturday 1 February 2025 04:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Senator Lisa Murkowski ripped President Donald Trump's comments blaming disability and diversity hires for the deadly American Airlines-helicopter crash.
The Alaska Republican's attack come after Trump blamed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices for the crash near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. Specifically, the president criticized the Federal Aviation Administration's recruitment program for people with intellectual disabilities.
Murkowski told The Independent that she felt awful for the families and everyone involved.
Eric Garcia reports.
Mexico's president calls on Google to identify US as 'América Mexicana’
Saturday 1 February 2025 03:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has blasted Google for kowtowing to Donald Trump by changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico – and wants the United States to be identified as “América Mexicana.”
Sheinbaum attacked Google after Trump unilaterally decreed last week in an executive order that the Gulf of Mexico will henceforth be known as the “Gulf of America” – and Google quickly agreed to comply on its Google maps.
Mary Papenfuss reports.
ANALYSIS: Mark Robinson is not running for re-election – here’s why that's bad news for Trump
Saturday 1 February 2025 02:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Eric Garcia explains how North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis has had to appeal to the Trumpian right to avoid a primary challenge, but now Robinson’s departure gives him an opening to pivot to the center and sink some of Trump’s nominees.
Hegseth refuses to rule out military strikes on Mexico
Saturday 1 February 2025 01:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
Newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has refused to rule out military action in Mexico, saying that “all options will be on the table
