US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said that the Trump administration could announce a roadmap to reduce tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement as early as March 5, local time.
Speaking in an interview with Fox Business on March 4, Howard Lutnick said: "Both Mexico and Canada have been calling me all day to try to prove they will do better, and the President is listening, because he is very, very fair and reasonable. So I think he will find a way to deal with them. There will be no Pauses or delays, but I think he will come to a Some kind of agreement: You do more, and he will give in somewhat. We will most likely announce that tomorrow".
Minister Lutnick did not specify what action President Donald Trump is considering after the comprehensive tax on all goods from Canada and Mexico took effect on March 4.
Mr Lutnick rejected the view that the tariffs would be completely abolished. Instead, he mentioned the US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement negotiated during Trump's first term.
"If you follow those rules, the President will consider giving you a exemption. If they do not comply, they will have to pay taxes," he said.
According to Bloomberg, Minister Lutnick's comments are the first public signal from Mr. Trump's group since the tariffs were applied, suggesting that the President may be skeptical about the decision to issue the largest US tax package in nearly a century.
Previously, on March 4, Mr. Trump gave little sign that he would consider exempting some imports from Mexico and Canada. He noted that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's retaliatory measures would "increase the US tax rate to the equivalent level".
Democratic and Republican Party members at Capitol Hill have urged the president to reconsider the plan, saying these tax policies could increase costs for American consumers and hurt key industries such as agriculture and cars. Canada and Mexico have both announced plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on imports from the US.
President Trump had previously postponed the imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a month before allowing the implementation on March 4. On March 3, the President said there was no longer "reserve" for the two countries to continue to delay taxes as achieved in February.
