Staff Reports
In a move that has many raising their eyebrows, President Trump recently made it clear that he won’t be backing down on his plans for tariffs on goods coming from Mexico and Canada, although the timeline has undergone a series of delays that would make a traffic light look positively stable. Initially slated to kick off back in February, the start date has been pushed back to April 2. It seems like in the world of tariffs, procrastination isn’t just a bad habit—it’s practically an art form.
When Trump originally took office, he wasted no time in rattling sabers over these tariffs, directly linking them to the issues of illegal immigration and the tragic flow of fentanyl into the U.S. This connection may not surprise anyone familiar with the current state of affairs, as the opioid crisis continues to grip communities across the nation. After having a chat with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump decided to button up for a bit, delaying the implementation of tariffs while he awaited some concrete results.
During a recent cabinet meeting—one of those gathering moments where decisions are made and probably coffee is spilled—Trump confirmed that while he’s not ready to drop the tariff hammer just yet, he expects both nations to step up and prove that they can do better regarding border security and drug trafficking. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick coined the phrase “fentanyl-related pause” to describe the current situation, which sounds cool and ominous but mostly means that Trump isn’t in a panic mode just yet while he observes how things unfold.
Trump says rollout date for tariffs on Canada, Mexico has moved to April in first cabinet meeting https://t.co/ykiv1LH5XL
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) February 26, 2025
It turns out that Uncle Sam runs on a “show me” philosophy here. Canada and Mexico have been placed on notice that they must demonstrate to Trump that they are taking action to curb the illegal activities that are spilling over into America. If they show they are serious, Trump might just be persuaded to take a breather on the tariffs for a while. However, it’s hard not to suspect that the pressure is on the neighbors, and they better come up with some convincing evidence, or the tariffs are going to make a spectacular entrance on April 2.
This whole scenario raises a question about the administration’s strategy. While the theatrics around the tariffs may be entertaining, one can’t help but wonder if the longer wait means that Canada and Mexico will pull a rabbit out of a hat to avoid the impending disaster. Conservatives will certainly be watching to see if the so-called partners can step up or if America’s patience runs out faster than the expiration date on a carton of milk.
