Executive Action and Tariff Policy

President Trump declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, citing fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration as critical threats. This marks a first for utilizing the 1977 law for imposing tariffs, a practice historically reserved for embargoes and sanctions. The 10 percent tariffs on China remain in effect, while plans for a 25 percent duty on Mexico and Canada have been delayed, signaling a complex interplay of trade policy and border security. Trump's use of this act aims at rapid implementation, circumventing traditional lengthy investigations required for other tariff laws, thereby reflecting a strategy to expedite his economic agenda.