Trump’s ‘troubling’ tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China ‘going to touch everyone’ in Mass., expert says

DEDHAM, Mass. — President Donald Trump has kept his promise on his campaign pledge to implement tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.

Trump declared an economic emergency to place duties of 10% on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada. Energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas, and electricity, would be taxed at 10%.

The tariffs on the United States’ three largest trading partners were slated to go into effect on Tuesday, however, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that Trump agreed to pause tariffs on her country for a month.

Brooke Thomson, the President & CEO of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, told Boston 25 News that Trump’s “troubling” taxes will only drive up the already high prices in Massachusetts.

“It’s troubling. We already have really high prices here in Massachusetts. And in this time where our businesses are trying to be more competitive, it’s concerning,” Thomson explained.

Thomson said the tariffs could have “immediate cost impacts” on energy in Massachusetts.

“That’s something that will touch all businesses because we’re all consumers of energy,” Thomson explained. “I think we could start seeing it very, very quickly. If you look at it, we’re dependent on over $10 billion in energy from Canada. That can relate to about 80% of our diesel fuel. It can affect trucking, it can affect the moving of goods, all of those things, pretty rapidly.”

The tariffs are “going to touch everyone” in the Bay State, according to Thomson, and she said the only questions are: “How quickly and at what levels?”

Thomson noted that a Berkshires-based business that purchases $15 million in paper products from Canada annually is bracing for a $4 million uptick in costs.

“What we’re hearing from our members is that they’re really concerned,” Thomson said. “Are they going to have to find new suppliers? What’s that going to do to their business structure? It’s a lot of uncertainty and chaos.”

When asked if the United States was on the brink of a trade war, Thomson said, “It’s entirely possible.”

Trump said these levies against the trading partners are about immigration and drugs.

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