Trump Delays Canada-Mexico Tariffs

President Donald Trump postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month, the Associated Press and other news organizations reported. Speaking in the Oval Office on March 6, Trump said that he still plans to impose “reciprocal” tariffs starting on April 2, the AP reported.

Among the postponed measures was a 10% tariff on Canadian energy imports, which had briefly gone into effect beginning on Tuesday, March 4, the National Energy and Fuels Institute reported to its  members.

“The delay applies to goods meeting rules of origin requirements under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA), which includes refined petroleum products and propane,” NEFI informed its members.

The “‘on again, off again’ tariff situation has rattled markets and created uncertainty for many U.S. businesses, including heating fuel dealers and the broader energy sector,” the Institute noted. NEFI said it is educating policymakers on the potential impacts: “We have joined a broad coalition of national fuel associations in sending a letter to the White House regarding potential impacts, conducted dozens of meetings with key Congressional offices, met with representatives from the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C., and coordinated talking points with state and national association partners. We have also maintained frequent communications with key industry stakeholders, including regional suppliers.”