Biden says he hopes Trump reconsiders tariffs on Mexico and Canada

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, considered “counterproductive” the measure announced by his successor in office, Donald Trump, to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada. He said he hopes he reconsiders.

US President Joe Biden said Thursday that he hopes President-elect Donald Trump will rethink his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, saying it could ruin relations with close allies.

“I hope he rethinks it. I think it's kind of counterproductive,” Biden told reporters in Nantucket.

“We have an unusual situation in the United States: We are surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and two allies: Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need is to start spoiling those relationships.”

Trump said Monday he would impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico until they clamped down on drugs and migrants crossing the border, in a move that would appear to violate the free trade agreement between the three countries.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that she did not specifically talk about tariffs on a call he had with Trump on the previous day, and added that both had agreed that there would be good relations between the nations.