From Nantucket (Massachusetts), where he spoke Thursday during a visit to a fire station, US President Joe Biden warned of the consequences of growing tensions between the United States, Mexico and Canada . He strongly criticized Donald Trump's plan, which provides for a 25% increase in customs duties on imports from these two neighboring countries.
“They are allies,” recalled the Democratic president, emphasizing the importance of preserving these strategic partnerships. He invited his Republican successor to “reconsider” this project. Joe Biden also denounced the idea of using customs tariffs as diplomatic leverage, in particular to put pressure on subjects such as illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.
Need for peaceful dialogue
The measures envisaged by Donald Trump, which must come into force after his inauguration in January, raise serious concerns. Joe Biden denounced a risky bet which could lead to a trade war and slow down global growth. The outgoing president also stressed the importance of peaceful dialogue to resolve these complex issues.
In addition to Mexico and Canada, Donald Trump is also considering introducing a 10% surcharge on Chinese imports. Following these statements, China reacted by asserting that these measures “will not solve” American problems, a position that Joe Biden seems to share. On Thursday, he recalled the efforts made during his mandate to maintain open channels of communication with President Xi Jinping. “One thing I'm sure about Xi is that he doesn't want to make a mistake,” Joe Biden said.
