Trump’s Second Term: Laying the Groundwork for a New Trade War
In a statement released on February 1, 2025, President Trump announced the implementation of a 10% tariff on Chinese goods and a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. While the former took effect via executive order on February 4, the latter were granted a 30-day reprieve. Sanctions targeting European Union (EU) products are said to be imminent.
This offensive is no surprise since it was a central pillar of candidate Trump’s 2024 campaign. It merely continues the measures initiated during his first term, many of which were largely maintained by the Biden administration. Nevertheless, it remains as blunt as ambiguous—unclear in its goals, execution, and the extent of its support across the country.
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Laurence NARDON
Research Fellow, Head of the Americas Program, Ifri
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Americas Program
Ifri's work on the Americas region focuses mainly on the United States. Indeed, for more than 20 years, Ifri's Americas Program has provided keys to understanding American society and domestic policy while shedding light on developments in the country's foreign policy, including transatlantic relations and trade issues.
Since 2023, a specific axis on Latin America structures more actively Ifri's research on this region.
Ifri's Canada program was active in 2015 and 2016.
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