On Thursday, President Joe Biden expressed concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, urging him to reconsider the move. Biden warned that such tariffs could harm vital relationships with close allies, stressing that the U.S. is surrounded by the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, along with two key allies—Mexico and Canada. “The last thing we need to do is screw up those relationships,” Biden said while spending Thanksgiving with his family in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Trump’s announcement earlier in the week indicated that he would impose tariffs on both countries until they take stronger actions against drugs and migration. This would likely violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Following a call with Trump, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that they did not specifically discuss tariffs. Sheinbaum, however, clarified that the two agreed on maintaining positive relations, and Trump claimed Sheinbaum had agreed to curb migration through Mexico, effectively closing the southern U.S. border. Sheinbaum countered by outlining a strategy to manage migration before it reached the U.S.
Biden, who met with Trump earlier this month at the White House, reiterated his desire for a smooth transition between administrations. He acknowledged that Trump might be undergoing some internal reflection on his decisions. During his Thanksgiving visit to a fire station in Nantucket, Biden also reflected on his administration’s successes, including progress in the Middle East, particularly the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. He expressed gratitude for his administration’s achievements and looked forward to future diplomatic gains.
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