WASHINGTON — Two days after enacting a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico, President Donald Trump on Thursday signed executive actions delaying the levies on products from the two countries that fall under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement until April 2. 

The president had already announced that such an amendment to his orginal tariffs would apply to Mexico but not Canada in a post on Truth Social earlier Thursday, saying he made the decision after speaking with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

What You Need To Know

  • Two days after enacting a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico, President Donald Trump on Thursday signed executive actions delaying the levies on products from the two countries that fall under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement 
  • The exemption will run through April 2

  • In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he made the decision on Mexico after speaking with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum

  • “Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl,” Trump wrote

“This Agreement is until April 2nd," the president wrote. "I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl.”

In addition to his claims about fentanyl, Trump has insisted that the tariffs could be resolved by fixing the trade deficit and he emphasized while speaking in the Oval Office that he still plans to impose “reciprocal” tariffs starting on April 2.

“Most of the tariffs go on April the second,” Trump said before signing the orders. “Right now, we have some temporary ones and small ones, relatively small, although it’s a lot of money having to do with Mexico and Canada.”

Sheinbaum thanked Trump in a post on X shortly after his announcement.

"We had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, within the framework of respect for our sovereignties," she wrote.

"We will continue to work together, particularly on migration and security issues, which include reducing the illegal crossing of fentanyl into the United States, as well as weapons into Mexico," Sheinbaum continued. "As mentioned by President Trump, Mexico will not be required to pay tariffs on all those products within the USMCA."

The move comes one day after Trump exempted Ford, General Motors and Stellantis from the 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports through April 2, when the White House expects to begin reciprocal tariffs on a variety of goods.

The USMCA free trade pact was reached and signed by Trump during his first term in the White House.

Roughly 62% of imports from Canada would likely still face the new tariffs because they're not USMCA compliant, according to a White House official who insisted on anonymity to preview the orders on a call with reporters. Half of imports from Mexico that are not USCMA compliant would also be taxed under the orders being signed by Trump, the official said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the leader of Canada’s most populous province, said that starting Monday the province will charge 25% more for electricity shipped to 1.5 million Americans in response to Trump’s tariff plan. Ontario provides electricity to Minnesota, New York and Michigan.

“This whole thing with President Trump is a mess,” Ford said Thursday. “This reprieve, we’ve went down this road before. He still threatens the tariffs on April 2.”

Ford’s office said that the tariff would remain in place even if there’s a one month reprieve from the Americans. Ford has said that so long as the threat of tariffs continue, Ontario’s position will not change.