President Donald Trump on Thursday said 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada will go into effect Tuesday, when an additional 10% tariff will be placed on Chinese imports.
Trump had delayed imposing the tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for one month after the two U.S. neighbors agreed to boost border security efforts.
China already faces 10% U.S. tariffs on its products.
"Drugs are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels. A large percentage of these Drugs, much of them in the form of Fentanyl, are made in, and supplied by, China," Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social. "More than 100,000 people died last year due to the distribution of these dangerous and highly addictive POISONS. Millions of people have died over the last two decades. The families of the victims are devastated and, in many instances, virtually destroyed.
"We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled. China will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date. The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect. Thank you for your attention to this matter. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
Trump has blamed the three countries for fueling the fentanyl epidemic in the U.S.
Trump has said Mexico and Canada have not done enough to stop the influx of opioids coming across the borders, and China is where fentanyl and related precursor chemicals are produced.
Trump on Monday said tariffs on Canada and Mexico are starting next month, ending a monthlong suspension on the planned import taxes that could potentially hurt economic growth and worsen inflation.
"We're on time with the tariffs, and it seems like that's moving along very rapidly," he said at a White House news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
While answering a specific question about the taxes to be charged on America's two largest trading partners, Trump also stressed more broadly that his intended "reciprocal" tariffs were on schedule to begin as soon as April.
"The tariffs are going forward on time, on schedule," Trump said.
It was reported Monday that Canada and Mexico were expected to intensify efforts to avoid the tariffs on their exports to the U.S. in talks to persuade Trump's administration that their steps to increase border security and curb fentanyl trafficking are working before Tuesday's deadline.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.