President Donald Trump made good on his threats to impose tariffs on some of the U.S.'s trading partners, announcing Saturday that he will levy 25% tariffs on some goods from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods.
Experts have warned that tariffs of this magnitude will likely increase prices paid by U.S. and Trump appeared to acknowledge that “some pain” might be possible in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee announced it will meet Tuesday, when it is expected to vote on the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy nomination expected to get committee vote Tuesday
The Senate Finance Committee will meet Tuesday at 10 a.m. to consider Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services.
The committee is expected to vote on the nomination, a critical step before Kennedy’s nomination can come to a vote by the full Senate.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., testifies during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing for his pending confirmation on Capitol Hill, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington
Rod Lamkey/AP
One no vote from Republicans on the committee would keep Kennedy’s nomination from being reported favorably out the committee to go to the Senate floor. GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, a member of the panel and a physician, has publicly expressed skepticism about Kennedy.
Kennedy faced nearly eight hours of questioning from two Senate committees last week in confirmation hearings.
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
Feb 01, 2025, 9:34 PM EST
Trudeau announces retaliatory tariffs
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to Trump’s tariffs Saturday evening by announcing the country will implement 25% tariffs on $155 billion of U.S. goods.
"This includes immediate tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods effective Tuesday, followed by further tariffs on $125 billion worth of American products in 21 days," the prime minister said.
Trudeau encouraged Canadians to read labels at the grocery store and choose "Canadian rye over Kentucky bourbon," forgoing orange juice from Florida and "changing summer vacation plans" to visit places within Canada.
"We will get through this challenge," Trudeau said.
Feb 01, 2025, 8:59 PM EST
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responds to Trump tariffs
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has responded to President Donald Trump's move to impose 25% tariffs on all Mexican imports to the U.S.
In a lengthy statement in Spanish on social media platform X, Sheinbaum said she has instructed officials in her government to implement Plan B, "which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico's interests."
STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO - Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, speaks during the delivery of cards of the Housing Improvement Campaign for Wellbeing, at the Centro Deportivo Ecológico Bicentenario. on January 31, 2025 in State of Mexico, Mexico. (Photo credit should read Carlos Santiago/ Pixelnews/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Future Publishing via Getty Imag
The message did not provide any further details about the tariffs.
Sheinbaum said Mexico does not want confrontation with the U.S.
"We start from collaboration between neighboring countries. Mexico not only does not want fentanyl to reach the United States, but anywhere. Therefore, if the United States wants to combat criminal groups that traffic drugs and generate violence, we must work together in an integrated manner."
She proposed establishing a joint U.S.-Mexico working group, "with our best public health and security teams."
A fact sheet the White House sent out laying out the rationale for the tariffs alleged that the Mexican government was working directly with drug cartels.
"Mexican drug trafficking organizations have an intolerable alliance with the government of Mexico," the fact sheet stated. "The government of Mexico has afforded safe havens for the cartels…This alliance endangers the national security of the United States."
In a withering response to that charge, Sheinbaum said: "We categorically reject the White House's slander of the Government of Mexico for having alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention to interfere in our territory."
Feb 01, 2025, 7:21 PM EST
Jeffries responds to tariffs
House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries released a lengthy statement slamming Republicans and Trump over his tariffs.
"The tariffs imposed by the administration and strongly supported by House Republicans will not lower the high cost of living for everyday Americans. Instead, it will likely do the exact opposite and make life more expensive," he said.
