Secretary of Commerce-designate Howard Lutnick told a Senate committee that the threat of imposing a 25% tariff was to get Canada and Mexico to “respect” the United States and stop the flow of fentanyl into the country.

President Donald Trump's nominee to run the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, said on Wednesday that Canada and Mexico can avoid looming U.S. tariffs if they act swiftly to close their borders to fentanyl,

He noted those tariffs were separate from a broad effort by the Commerce Department, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and the Treasury Department to review trade relations and tariffs by April 1.

The U.S. government has stated that Canada and Mexico could still avoid hefty tariffs if they take action to curb fentanyl trafficking at their borders while also committing to slowing China’s advancements in artificial intelligence.

President Donald Trump's commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick said at his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday (January 29) that Canada and Mexico can avoid looming tariffs if they act swiftly stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.

President Donald Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, billionaire financial-services executive Howard Lutnick, made an effort Wednesday to ease concerns about potentially inflationary 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico that could hit Saturday.