U.S. President Donald Trump said again Wednesday he plans to hit Canada and Mexico with devastating duties B次元官网网址� but a White House official confirmed on background that the tariff plans could change through negotiations.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not stopping the tariffs,B次元官网网址� Trump told reporters as he hosted the first cabinet meeting of his second term at the White House.

TrumpB次元官网网址檚 executive order to implement 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports, with a lower 10 per cent levy on energy, was delayed until March 4 after Canada agreed to introduce new security measures at the border.

The president, who initially tied the duties to the flow of deadly fentanyl, said the pause would allow time to reach a B次元官网网址渇inal economic deal.B次元官网网址�

The presidentB次元官网网址檚 enthusiasm for duties has led to a swelling inventory of tariff threats since he returned to the White House last month B次元官网网址� threats that have targeted Canada, among others.

He signed an executive order to implement B次元官网网址渞eciprocal tariffsB次元官网网址� by raising U.S. duties to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports starting April 2. He ordered 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States on March 12.

Trump also floated the idea of imposing tariffs on automobiles and forest products in April. He signed an executive order Tuesday to look at a levy on copper.

Trump himself seems to be having a hard time keeping track of his massive tariff agenda. On Wednesday the president said the duties on Canada and Mexico would be coming April 2 B次元官网网址� a statement that was quickly clarified by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

B次元官网网址淭he fentanyl-related things, they are working hard on the border, at the end of that 30 days they have to prove to the president that theyB次元官网网址檝e satisfied him to that regard,B次元官网网址� Lutnick said, adding that deadline was different from the one on the reciprocal tariffs. B次元官网网址淚f they have, he will give them a pause B次元官网网址� or he wonB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�

Trump said he would be B次元官网网址渉ard to convince.B次元官网网址�

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data shows the number of people and drugs crossing illegally into the United States from Canada is minuscule compared to the volume coming across the southern border.

Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks told U.S. media last week that unlawful crossings at the southern border had dropped more than 90 per cent from the same period last year. There has also been a significant drop in crossings at the northern border.

The White House official said that, as of now, tariffs against Canada would be going ahead Tuesday. That could change, the official added, depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations.

Federal ministers and premiers have been cycling through Washington in recent weeks in an attempt to find out what it would take to get Trump to abandon his tariff plans. Many say CanadaB次元官网网址檚 border plan has received positive responses in Washington.

But it remains unclear what Trump wants as the president continues to complain about trade and call for Canada to become a U.S. state.

Public Safety Minister David McGuinty and newly appointed B次元官网网址渇entanyl czarB次元官网网址� Kevin Brosseau were the latest to make the diplomatic push in Washington this week.

Kirsten Hillman, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 ambassador to the U.S., said Brosseau B次元官网网址渋s the most popular guy in townB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渆verybody wants to talk to him.B次元官网网址�

She said if America is asking Canada to take action on issues that matter to both countries B次元官网网址� such as fentanyl B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 important to respond. But itB次元官网网址檚 now clear those efforts may not stop the tariffs.

B次元官网网址淚 think we just need to take it one step at a time and recognize that this is a relationship that we are having to manage with a partner that is interested in wielding these economic tools,B次元官网网址� Hillman said at a Canada on Capitol Hill event Tuesday.

TrumpB次元官网网址檚 disruption of trading relationships and disregard for long-standing alliances have sent shockwaves across Canada and around the world. The latest political upheaval came Tuesday when Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey resigned, citing the B次元官网网址渂onkersB次元官网网址� president.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 New York Consul General Tom Clark said TrumpB次元官网网址檚 tariff agenda is changing the world. At some point, he added, the president will either have to follow through or call it off.

B次元官网网址淭rump has to show that heB次元官网网址檚 not just massively bluffing and I think that moment is approaching,B次元官网网址� Clark said in Washington Tuesday.

B次元官网网址淚s he bluffing? Is it all smoke and mirrors or is it real? WeB次元官网网址檒l find out.B次元官网网址�

Many experts say TrumpB次元官网网址檚 actions are intended to shake up Canada and Mexico ahead of a review of the continental trade pact. The Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement was negotiated during the first Trump administration to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Clark said Canada has to seize this moment because the way the country looks in five years will depend on what is done in the next five weeks.

B次元官网网址淲hen you are under threat, when somebody has got a gun to your head and you suddenly in that moment of clarity figure out a few things, then maybe thatB次元官网网址檚 a good thing,B次元官网网址� Clark said. B次元官网网址淎nd hopefully thereB次元官网网址檚 not a bullet in the gun.B次元官网网址�