Month: February 2025

President Trump and the leaders of Canada and Mexico has agreed to a one-month pause on 25% of tariffs on goods entering the United States from those countries.  The announcement came two days after Trump slapped tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 10% tariff on goods imported from China (per THE HILL). Trump said there will be Mexican officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick will negotiate on tariffs.

After Trump’s talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico agreed to immediately send 10,000 soldiers to her country’s border to prevent the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs. Sheinbaum posted on social media that Mexico will immediately reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the its National Guard to address drug trafficking from Mexico into the U.S., particularly fentanyl: “We had a good conversation with President Trump with great respect for our relationship and our sovereignty. We reached a series of agreements.”  Trump also added on Truth Social: “I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States. These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our Country. We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico. I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a “deal” between our two Countries.”

Later on Monday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on social media that Canada would be spending $1.3 billion on a plan to reinforce its border with new helicopters, technology and personnel, as well as additional resources to stop the flow of fentanyl:  “I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.  In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.   Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”

Shortly thereafter, Trump also posted about the deal with Trudeau, writing: “Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border, and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl that have been pouring into our Country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, while destroying their families and communities all across our Country … Canada will implement their $1.3 Billion Border plan, and as per Prime Minister Trudeau, will be, “reinforcing the Border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are, and will be, working on protecting the Border. In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the Border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million …As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!”

Despite Mexico and Canada’s decision, China’s Ministry of Commerce filed legal action with the World Trade Commission against the United States over the 10% tariffs placed on all Chinese imports.  The White House also has taken steps to close a loophole that allows Chinese e-commerce companies (like Temu and Shein) to avoid tariffs by shipping packages worth less than $800 into the U.S. duty free.  China said it will challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization and take unspecified “countermeasures” in response; those tariffs remain on track to go into affect on Tuesday.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday he is acting director of the United States Agency for International Development — the world’s largest provider of food assistance to underdeveloped parts of the globe — confirming the de-facto takeover of the humanitarian agency by the State Department. The news came hours after Elon Musk said President Donald Trump had signed off on shutting the agency down.

SAID was established in 1961 by an act of Congress.

Any implication for the USAID remains largely unclear, but a number of organizations delivering humanitarian aid warned they may have to suspend operations or close altogether. Rubio stated that “the functions of USAID must align with U.S. foreign policy,” calling it “a completely unresponsive agency … there are things that USAID, that we do through USAID, that we should continue to do, and we will continue to do.”

The changes arrived as federal USAID employees worked Monday from home after being instructed to not report for duty at the department’s main office in downtown Washington because it was closed. Workers were told in an email sent just after midnight, a copy of which CNN said it had obtained, stating: “At the direction of Agency leadership, the USAID headquarters at the Ronald Reagan building in Washington, D.C. will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 .. Agency personnel normally assigned to work at USAID headquarters will work remotely tomorrow, with the exception of personnel with essential on-site and building maintenance functions individually contacted by senior leadership. 

Musk accused the independent agency — which has spent the past six decades spending billions of dollars annually alleviating poverty, disease and the impact of natural disasters around the world, as well as promoting democracy — of being “incredibly politically partisan,” and alleged it backed “radically left causes” around the world those that were “anti-American” and that, on the basis of what his team had found, it was so far that it could not be fixed.  Said Musk: “It became apparent that it’s not an apple with a worm it in. What we have is just a ball of worms. There is no apple. And when there is no apple, you just need to get rid of the whole thing. That’s why it’s got to go. It’s beyond repair.”

Trump concurred with Musk, saying the agency had “been run by a bunch of radical lunatics. We’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision” on what future, if any, lay ahead for USAID.

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