President Donald Trump has decided to pause additional tariffs on Canadian imports for 30 days after a productive call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The call, which took place on Monday, came just hours before additional 25% tariffs were set to be imposed on Canadian goods entering the United States.
In a statement following the call, Trudeau announced that Canada would be implementing a $1.3 billion border plan and appointing a fentanyl czar to address the ongoing issues. As part of the plan, Canada will strengthen its border security with the addition of new helicopters, technology, personnel, and enhanced coordination with American authorities. Trudeau noted that nearly 10,000 personnel are currently working on border protection efforts.
“We will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 surveillance on the border, and launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl, and money laundering,” Trudeau stated. “I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, backed by $200 million in funding.”
The proposed tariffs will be put on hold for at least 30 days as both countries work together to address the issues at hand. Trump has long been critical of Canada and Mexico for not doing enough to prevent the flow of illegal migrants and drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the U.S. He has also accused Canada of receiving $200 million in annual subsidies from the U.S.
In a statement released on Saturday when he initially imposed the tariffs, Trump emphasized his commitment to protecting Americans and securing the borders. He stated that he had made a promise during his campaign to stop the influx of illegal aliens and drugs into the country, and that it was his duty as President to fulfill that promise.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Prior to his call with Trudeau, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to deploy 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in response to tariff threats. Trump had also threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian and Mexican goods, as well as a 10% tariff on Canadian energy and all goods coming from China. The tariffs on Canada and China were initially set to go into effect at midnight on Tuesday.
The tensions between the U.S. and its neighboring countries have prompted leaders in several Canadian provinces to pledge to remove American alcohol from store shelves in response to the threats. The situation remains fluid as both countries work towards a resolution to the issues at hand.
