Donald Trump isn't holding back! Just before his inauguration, he's ramping up plans to slap a whopping 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. But is this for real, and how are our neighbors reacting? Let's dive in! 
\"Tariff\" is Trump's Favorite Word?
On the campaign trail last October, Trump boldly proclaimed, \"The most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff. It's my favorite word.\" Sounds intense, right? 
Fast forward to November 25, and Trump promised that once he's in the White House, he'd sign an executive order imposing those heavy tariffs. His reason? Tackling the \"long-simmering problem\" of illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the U.S. 
New Department Alert: External Revenue Service 
Just days before taking office, Trump announced plans to create the \"External Revenue Service\" to collect \"tariffs, duties, and all revenue\" from foreign countries. Talk about making moves! 
Canada's Response: Is Everything on the Table? 
After Trump's tariff threats, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Mar-a-Lago on November 29. Over dinner, Trump apparently floated the idea of making Canada the 51st state! Wait, what?! 
He even addressed Trudeau as the \"governor\" of Canada. Awkward! Trump later wrote on Truth Social, \"I look forward to seeing the governor again soon so we can continue our in-depth discussions on tariffs and trade.\" 
What About the USMCA? 
With these tariff threats, there's a big question mark over the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that was signed during his first term. How will this move impact trade agreements and relationships with our neighbors? 
Reference(s):
Analysis: Are Trump's tariff plans for Canada, Mexico real threats?
cgtn.com
