US President Joe Biden said that he hopes President-elect Donald Trump “rethinks” some of his tariff plans, Report informs via The Hill.
“I hope he rethinks it. I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do,” the president said in Nantucket, Mass., discussing tariff plans for Canada and Mexico formed by the incoming president, according to a pool report.
“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,” he continued.
On Monday, Trump said he would issue an executive order imposing fresh tariffs at the start of his next term on Chinese, Canadian and Mexican goods.
The president-elect said in posts on Truth Social that he would enact 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, while adding an extra 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods. The aim of the tariffs, according to Trump, is to press the countries to increase their efforts on border security and combating fentanyl exports to the U.S.
“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 said on Truth Social.