WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says he expects President Donald Trump will pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico until April 2.
Lutnick told CNBC he expects an agreement today on goods he says are complaint with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade.
His comments come a day after Trump granted a one-month exemption for any vehicles coming through CUSMA after the Big Three automakers had a conversation with the president.
Markets have been tumultuous since Trump followed through Tuesday on his threat to impose sweeping economy-wide tariffs on Canada and Mexico, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy.
On Wednesday, Lutnick told Fox News that Trump was "leaning towards coming up with an idea" that allows a tariff exclusion for Canadian and Mexican markets that are in compliance with the free-trade deal.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will stand firm as long as the "unjustified" tariffs remain in place.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2025.
