Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick provided an update on Sunday for President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada that were delayed for a month after being signed at the beginning of February.
For those who need a reminder, the initial Trump tariff proposal would tax imports from Canada and Mexico at 25% unless they stopped the flow of migrants and drugs, specifically fentanyl, into the U.S. and came to the table for a new trade deal.
However, with the deadline from the delay coming to an end on Tuesday, much remains up in the air.
While appearing on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Lutnick provided an update on the tariffs, sharing a different trajectory for the taxes than Trump’s previous day one promise.
When asked what the plan was for the tariffs, Lutnick shared that things aren’t set in stone but that they have already helped stop the flow of migrants and fentanyl into the U.S.
The tariffs were initially paused after Canada and Mexico agreed to take stronger measures at their borders, giving them a month before the taxes would go into place.
“They have done a lot,” Lutnick said of Mexico and Canada.“So, [Trump] is sort of thinking about right now how exactly he wants to play it with Mexico and Canada, and that is a fluid situation.”
While Trump has said that the tariffs will go into effect on Tuesday, the remarks from Lutnick seem to suggest that another pause may be coming or that they may not be at the 25% Trump initially proposed.
“Exactly what they are, we’re going to leave that for the president and his team to negotiate,” he said.
Lutnick continued, remaining vague about what will happen.
“I think there are going to be tariffs on Tuesday on Mexico and Canada. Exactly what they’re going to be, I’m going to leave that for the president to decide,” Lutnick reiterated.