North Dakota – Following the Trump administration’s announcement further spelling out the U.S. trade and tariff plan with the world, North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer is sounding hopeful that deals will soon be reached with Canada and Mexico.
Based on Trump’s plan, Mexico will face a 25% tariff on imports, while Canada’s will rise to 35%.
Admitting Canada’s rate is “quite high”, Cramer told The Flag on Friday he wants to find out more about the reason why.
“He [Trump] says it’s related back to the fentanyl crisis,” said Cramer. “Although if Mexico’s is only twenty-five and fentanyl is the issue, I’m a little bit confused so I’ll have to talk to [the president] about that.”
At the same time, Cramer indicated he’s fully behind Trump’s current approach to try and strike separate trade deals with the U.S. northern and southern neighbors.
“While a trilateral USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement] is fine, I think [Trump] has always been more comfortable with bilateral and understand exactly why.”
“If that’s his logic, I’m fully supportive.”
Trump’s “universal” tariff will stay at 10%, and only applies to nations with a surplus.
For countries with which the U.S. has a trade deficit, the starting rate will be 15%.
