Biden says Trump’s tariff threat against Canada and Mexico is ‘counterproductive’

Biden said he hopes Trump “rethinks” his tariff announcement, which would affect two close U.S. allies.

President Joe Biden on Thursday criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he will implement 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, saying the comments were “counterproductive.”

“I hope he rethinks it, and I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do,” Biden said, responding to a reporter’s question about his reaction.

“The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships,” he said during a Thanksgiving Day visit to a fire station in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Trump said Monday on Truth Social that one of his first executive orders would be to hit Mexico and Canada with a blanket 25% tariff. Mexico and Canada are the second and third top suppliers of goods to the U.S., according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The U.S. imports the most goods from China.

“This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” Trump said in the post.

Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Biden’s remarks.

On the campaign trail, Trump frequently promised to implement more tariffs, especially on China. Some economists have criticized the possibility of steep tariffs, arguing that the cost would ultimately be passed on to consumers.