President Donald Trump said Monday his recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will be removed only if a free trade agreement is renegotiated to benefit the U.S.
"We have large trade deficits with Mexico and Canada. NAFTA, which is under renegotiation right now, has been a bad deal for U.S.A." Trump said on Twitter. "Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum will only come off if new & fair NAFTA agreement is signed."
In a later tweet, he tried to further his case by touting protection for the U.S.
"To protect our Country we must protect American Steel! #AMERICA FIRST".
Representatives from Mexico, Canada and the U.S. are meeting in Mexico City on Monday to wrap up the latest round of negotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, that have been complicated by Trump's announcement of the new tariffs.
Trump announced last week a 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports. America buys 16 percent of its steel annually from Canada, and Canada ranks as the number one buyer of American steel, which according to the Canadian Steel Producers Association evenly balances the total trade to CAN$12 billion yearly.
It is unclear when the tariffs would take effect, but it could happen as soon as this week.
Trump has framed the import penalties as an element of his agenda to put “America first”. Experts and business leaders have warned, however, that should the tariffs go ahead, the blowback could hurt U.S. industries, particularly in the event of a trade war with a major trading partner.
Trump has shrugged off such concerns and again rebuffed them Monday after Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan urged the president not to pursue the plan.
"We're not backing down," Trump said.
During his Monday morning tweet storm, Trump aired grievances against Canada and Mexico, saying Ottawa must treat American farmers "much better" and Mexico City should do more to thwart the flow of illicit drugs into the U.S.
"They have not done what needs to be done. Millions of people addicted and dying," he said.
Canada and Mexico are threatening retaliation if Trump proceeds with the tariffs. Trump said unless a new North American Free Trade Agreement is signed, the tariffs will apply.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Monday that Canada will react if the president follows through.
“We will always stand up for Canadian workers and Canadian industries,” said Freeland, speaking at a joint press conference with fellow NAFTA negotiators in Mexico City.
“Should restrictions be imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum products, Canada will take appropriate responsive measures to defend our trade interests and our workers,” she said.