USA implements tariffs while China, Canada, and Mexico look towards retaliation
Tuesday, March 4th, 2025Many nations are concerned about tariffs and trade with the USA:
China and Canada immediately retaliate against Trump’s tariffs. Mexico is next
March 4, 2025
President Donald Trump’s blanket 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday, an extraordinary action aimed at bringing America’s top trading partners to heel. But it threatens to weaken the North American economy, including that of the United States, at a time of significant stress for inflation-weary consumers.
Trump also doubled the tariff on all Chinese imports to 20% from 10%. Those duties sit atop existing tariffs on hundreds of billions in Chinese goods. China and Canada immediately retaliated with tariffs on American goods, threatening to ignite a damaging trade war. Mexico said it would announce retaliator measures Sunday.
The Trump administration said the tariffs were necessary to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
“While President Trump gave both Canada and Mexico ample opportunity to curb the dangerous cartel activity and influx of lethal drugs flowing into our country, they have failed to adequately address the situation,” according to a statement released by the White House shortly before the tariffs took effect. …
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned Tuesday in a press conference that Canada “will not back down from a fight.” He said he would implement a 25% tariff on C$30 billion ($20.7 billion) of US goods immediately, followed by an additional C$125 billion ($86.2 billion) in 21 days’ time. …
The only goods that won’t face a 25% tariff from Canada are energy-related items such as crude oil, one of the top goods the US imports from there. Instead, they’ll be subject to a 10% tax. …
The premier of Ontario, Canada’s largest province, has also repeated his earlier threat to cut off energy supply to the US in response to Trump’s tariffs.
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything, including cut off their energy, with a smile on my face. And I’m encouraging every other province to do the same,” Doug Ford told reporters on Monday, adding that eastern US relies on “our energy — they need to fell the pain.” …
Trump on Tuesday responded to Trudeau, threatening to “immediately” increase reciprocal tariffs on the neighboring country.
“Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/04/economy/trade-mexico-canada-china-tariffs-trump-hnk-intl/index.html
While I am NOT trying to justify the tariffs from the Trump-Vance Administration, I would like to point out that if Ontario’s leadership thinks causing the USA pain will stop Donald Trump, it should consider that it needs the trade with the USA more than the USA needs it.
And that seems to be the view of Donald Trump. Donald Trump expects both Mexico and Canada to acquiesce to his positions and policies. You will note that he did not hit the EU at the same time for several reasons, including the fact that he wants to minimize disruptions to the economy of the USA.
The Europeans have objected to these tariffs on Mexico and Canada:
March 4, 2025
The tariffs on Mexico and Canada “threaten deeply integrated supply chains, investment flows, and economic stability across the Atlantic,” European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said in a statement.
“The EU stands firmly against protectionist measures that undermine open and fair trade,” he added. “We call on the US to reconsider its approach and work towards a cooperative, rules-based solution that benefits all parties.”
The Commission’s statement follows Donald Trump’s imposition of blanket 25% duties on Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% duty on China, which came into effect at 6:01 am CET today. https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-criticises-us-tariffs-on-mexico-canada-but-stays-silent-on-china/
Notice also the following:
March 4, 2025
First there were the Trump Tariffs… then the Retaliation. Then as Europe closed, chatter about a possible Ukraine minerals deal started to gain momentum …
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick spoke on Fox Business, offering the dovish olive branch:
“Both the Mexicans and the Canadians were on the phone with me all day today trying to show that they’ll do better, and the president’s listening, because you know he’s very, very fair and very reasonable,” Lutnick said in an interview with Fox Business.
“So I think he’s going to work something out with them — it’s not going to be a pause, none of that pause stuff, but I think he’s going to figure out: you do more and I’ll meet you in the middle some way and we’re going to probably announcing that tomorrow.”
As Bloomberg reports, Lutnick did not explicitly say what President Donald Trump was considering after imposing an across-the-board tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico that went into effect overnight.
Lutnick said that the tariffs would likely land “somewhere in the middle” with Trump “moving with the Canadians and Mexicans, but not all the way.” https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/china-canada-retaliate-against-trumps-tariff-war-global-stocks-slide
Donald Trump makes a lot of statements for negotiating leverage.
It is my view that one of the reasons that Donald Trump implemented tariffs on Canada and Mexico and said yesterday that they would happen today was to get them to fold.
It is also my view his pressures against Mexico and Canada are to demonstrate to the European Union that he means to make them fold in later negotiations. That, also, was probably part of the reason his Administration has halted military weapons to Ukraine.
Donald Trump looks like he plans to use economic leverage as well as fear the USA could reduce defense of Europe to pressure the EU to go along to what he wants.
Yet, Europe is looking to improve ties elsewhere:
HANOI, March 4 (Reuters) – European leaders are planning visits to Vietnam in coming months to strengthen ties with the Southeast Asian nation, officials said, amid tensions with Washington that could impact their exports to the United States. …
European countries are intensifying their contacts with Vietnam, with the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and France’s President Emmanuel Macron both planning visits in the next months, European officials and diplomats said, noting the trips have long been planned and are not yet finalised.<
“The tide of tariffs and export controls is rising…We want to create new opportunities to trade and invest with trusted partners,” von der Leyen told top officials from Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN in a video message when they were gathered last week in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe-prepares-charm-offensive-vietnam-amid-us-trade-risks-2025-03-04/
As Europeans have been left reeling by the events of recent weeks which appear to spell the end of the transatlantic alliance as we know it, China sees an opportunity. … Many European leaders will see an opportunity to signal closer ties with China as leverage to secure continued commitments from the US. Such a strategy could well generate some success. 02/28/25 https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/02/trump-pushing-europe-and-china-closer-together-europe-should-tread-carefully
EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, … elaborates: “We need to get into new markets. In June we have a high-level mission to Japan with our agriculture and food-producing sector in order to get them into those markets, so that they have alternatives and are not being blackmailed, as happened before.”
On that issue of alternative markets to the US, Hansen underlines the importance of the Mercosur agreement with Latin American countries. Negotiations on the deal have concluded, but it has not yet been finally adopted. “We have a very positive export balance in trade,” Hansen explains. “Our milk and cheese sectors would benefit from such an agreement. Wines and spirits are currently under pressure in the European Union, and they would benefit from it. The whole [agricultural] sector would benefit from it. What is important is that we give fair conditions to our farmers.” https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/talking-europe/20250228-we-should-work-with-trade-partners-that-don-t-blackmail-us-eu-agriculture-commissioner
Notice also the following:
New Kazakhstan-China Rail Service to Boost Trade with Europe
4 March 2025
ASTANA – KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) railway company, in collaboration with China Railway Container Transport (CRCT), has launched a new container rail service linking China and Europe, …
The first container train, loaded with television components, departed from Chengdu, China, and headed to Lodz, Poland. The train will traverse Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Türkiye, ensuring uninterrupted cargo delivery and enhanced connectivity between these countries. …
This new service not only boosts the transportation capacity of the region but also makes international logistics more flexible, faster, and reliable. https://astanatimes.com/2025/03/new-kazakhstan-china-rail-service-to-boost-trade-with-europe/
Long time readers of this COGwriter Church of God News page are aware that I have long warned that China’s Belt and Road Initiative would aid in trade between Europe and China. The above is confirmation of that view.
The reality is that more of the world’s nations are starting to look away from the USA for trade. This is NOT just because of Donald Trump, but the USA’s weaponizing of its dollar and its increased use of what former Secretary of State in the Obama Administration called “soft power.”
But the re-emergence of Donald Trump and tariffs has added increased pressure/motivation for more to look to trade without the USA.
Notice part of number 8 of my list of 25 items to prophetically watch in 2025:
Europe will reach out to various ones in Asia and Africa, as well as Latin America. In the next several years, deals and more trade will occur with Africa, Asia, and Latin America. … in 2025 Europe will work on getting more of the world to accept its standards and trading matters. This will help Europe ultimately dominate trade.
The reelection of Donald Trump will motivate many to trade with each other because of his threats of tariffs, etc.
Notice part of number 22 of my list of 25 items to prophetically watch in 2025:
Donald Trump will be apocalyptic. At least 20 warnings/predictions I made before his last Administration assumed office came to pass (for details see Donald Trump in Prophecy).
Look for Donald Trump and His Administration to offend the Europeans, cause international trade concerns, push many nations further away from the United States,
This is happening NOW. See also: European Union seeks to improve trade ties with India as it faces Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
We have already seeing unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s trade statements and policies as the EU, Canada, India, China, and Latin America are looking more towards trade deals with each other and NOT the USA.
There will be many unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Trade Disputes: CCOG Warnings Are Coming to Pass Trade tensions and talks of trade wars have escalated. US President Donald Trump has put Europe, China, Mexico, and other lands on notice that he wants to change how international trade with the USA has been going. Tariffs, retaliatory tariffs, and even more tariffs are being implemented. Is this all just happenstance? Are we yet in a trade war? What will Europe do? Has the Church of God been warning about trade disputes and a coming trade war for decades? What about the Continuing Church of God (CCOG)? What has been warned, what has been happening, and what will happen? Will trade disputes be a factor in World War III (WW3)? Dr. Thiel explains what has been taught and what to expect.
Brexit Happened: Now What? At 11:00 pm January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom formally left the European Union. Many celebrated, while many mourned. Nigel Farage stated, “This is the greatest moment in modern British history.” What will happen to the United Kingdom? Will the UK be involved in trade deals with the United States of America and the Europeans? Will the UK regret the BRitish Exit (Brexit) from the EU?What will happen with the European Union? Is Europe prophesied to have a great army and many ships? Does the Bible prophesy a reorganization of Europe? Does it prophesy that the Europeans will become a conquering military power? Is the United Kingdom prophesied to be conquered? How does the Bible name the British-descended peoples? Was the British Empire the largest in world history? Was Brexit predicted by Church of God leaders in 1970 and the early 1990s? Will the European Union be negatively affected financially by the departure of the UK? Will this turn out well for the UK or the Europeans? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.
Trade Wars: Are COG warnings coming to pass? Trade issues, tariffs, and talk of trade wars are in the news. Can trade wars lead to World War III like they did to World War II? Are the events going on with the USA, UK, Asia, and Europe consistent with warnings published by the true Church of God (COG) over the past several years and decades? Do Germany and China hope to take advantage of trade frictions involving the Trump Administration and the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement? What about Mexico and South America? Does the Bible teach that Europe will become a major trading power? Will the final European Babylonian trading power be destroyed? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
25 items to prophetically watch in 2025 Much is happening. Dr. Thiel points to 25 items to watch (cf. Mark 13:37) in this article. Here is a link to a related sermon video: 25 Items to Watch in 2025.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?