President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Commerce Department said Mexico and Canada can avoid new tariffs due this weekend if they clamp down on border security — while also signaling that Trump is likely to impose widespread new levies to return manufacturing to US soil.

Howard Lutnick, Trump's pick for U.S. commerce secretary, said tariffs will 'create reciprocity, fairness and respect' for the U.S. and will not be inflationary for Americans.

WASHINGTON—Howard Lutnick’s journey from Wall Street veteran to one of President Trump’s most hawkish trade advisers began with a speech at his October campaign rally at Madison Square Garden. Lutnick extolled the virtues of tariffs and argued that the duties could at least in part replace the U.

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Commerce Department has told US lawmakers that Canada and Mexico can avoid blanket tariffs if they close their borders to fentanyl. "As far as I know, they are acting swiftly, and if they execute it, there will be no tariff," Howard Lutnick said on Wednesday during a confirmation hearing before senators.

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.

U.S. tariffs against Canada could come in two steps, with the first blow coming as early as Saturday if Ottawa can't show it has shut its borders to illegal immigration

Since his re-election in November, Trump has repeatedly said he would hit Canada and others with tariffs of up to 25 per cent. On his first day back in the Oval Office, Trump suggested tariffs on Canadian goods could be coming on Saturday.

The U.S. is threatening a two-stage tariff plan in which Canada and Mexico could get hit with initial trade penalties within days, then face broader penalties this spring.In summary, it's: maybe tariffs now,

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,

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, told senators the argument that tariffs cause inflation is "nonsense" during a confirmation hearing.

Billionaire financier Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Commerce Department, said Wednesday that he would sell all of his business holdings within 90 days.

United States President Donald Trump ’s pick to lead the Commerce Department said Mexico and Canada can avoid new tariffs due this weekend if they clamp down on border security — while also signalling that Trump is likely to impose widespread new levies to return manufacturing to U.S. soil.