President Trump said Thursday that he would offer a one-month exemption from tariffs for imports from Mexico that trade under the rules of U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade pact Mr. Trump signed in his first term.
The president wrote on Truth Social that he would give Mexican products an exemption until April 2 from the 25 percent tariffs that he levied on all products from Mexico and most goods from Canada earlier this week. The exemption would cover the vast majority of North American trade and follows days of turmoil in the stock markets.
“After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement,” he wrote.
“Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl,” he added.
Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, made similar comments on Thursday morning, saying that the president would most likely exempt all products that trade under U.S.M.C.A.
Stocks nudged higher after Mr. Lutnick spoke but remained lower for the day, with the S&P 500 down roughly 1 percent. The change would significantly expand a one-month exception Mr. Trump offered yesterday to automakers who import goods under the rules of the pact, which fell short of investors hopes for reprieve.
Mr. Lutnick said the president would speak with Canadian and Mexican officials on Thursday and make a decision about the exception.
“It’s likely that it will cover all USMCA-compliant goods and services, so that which is part of President Trump’s deal with Canada and Mexico are likely to get an exemption from these tariffs,” Mr. Lutnick said. Trade experts said that U.S.M.C.A. covers the vast majority of North American trade.
Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Lutnick have implied that any relief from tariffs could be short-lived, since the administration is considering another raft of levies next month. The president has said he will announce “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, which will raise U.S. tariffs to match the levels set by other countries, while also taking into consideration other practices that affect trade, like taxes and currency.
“My expectation is the president will come to the agreement today, and hopefully we will announce this today, that U.S.M.C.A.-compliant goods will not have a tariff for the next month, until April 2,” Mr. Lutnick said. Mr. Trump signed U.S.M.C.A. in 2020 to replace and revise the North American Free Trade Agreement.
