On Friday, January 31, 2025, President Donald Trump said he intended to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada the next day, Saturday, February 1. But Saturday was the announced deadline—not the date customs began collecting the duties. The signed Mexico order set a February 4 effective time, and a February 3 order paused that rate until March 4. Later policy changed again, so the 2025 announcements do not establish tariff rates in effect today.
What Trump confirmed on January 31
Trump’s statement was reported Friday, January 31, 2025. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the February 1 deadline remained in place and that the administration planned tariffs of 25% on Mexico, 25% on Canada and 10% on China the following day, according to Farm Policy News.
Trump said the proposed duties were tied to migration at the southern border, fentanyl and U.S. trade deficits with the neighboring countries. Speaking in the Oval Office, he said, “I’ll be putting the tariff of 25 percent on Canada and Mexico, and we will really have to do that because we have very big deficits with those countries.” Those were his stated reasons, not evidence that tariffs would resolve the issues he cited.
When the duties were scheduled to take effect
The announcement’s Saturday deadline did not match the effective time in the formal Mexico order. Signed February 1, 2025, that order prescribed an additional 25% ad valorem duty on covered Mexican goods entered for consumption beginning at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on February 4. It also provided a limited exception for certain goods loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading or in transit before February 1, if the importer met certification requirements. The order’s scope and exception mean the rate should not be described as automatically applying to every shipment.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- Road Atlas, Adventure Edition
- Road Atlas, Adventure Edition
- National Geographic Maps
On February 3, before that scheduled effective time, a subsequent order paused the additional Mexican rate until March 4, 2025. The order cited steps taken by Mexico and the need to assess whether the described threat had abated. The Mexico order and pause are available in the White House presidential-action record.
How the initial announcement differed from later policy
The distinction is between an announced plan, a signed order with a defined effective time, and later changes to that policy. The available dates establish this sequence:
| Date | What was reported or ordered |
|---|---|
| January 31, 2025 | Trump and the White House press secretary described a plan for 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, with 10% on China, to begin February 1, as reported by Farm Policy News. |
| February 1, 2025 | The Mexico order set a February 4 effective time for the additional 25% duty on covered goods, subject to its terms and in-transit exception. |
| February 3, 2025 | A subsequent order paused the additional Mexican rate until March 4, 2025. |
| April 2025 | A later White House order described amended treatment for Canada and Mexico, including an exception for goods qualifying as originating under USMCA and a general 25% rate for goods that did not qualify. It specified 10% for certain Canadian energy or energy resources and potash. |
The April terms are a dated account of policy in that order, not a confirmation of the complete tariff rules in effect now. The available sources do not establish the full legal treatment as of October 8, 2026, including any later amendments, court rulings or operational customs guidance. Check current official guidance before relying on a present-day rate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the announcement did—and did not—say about prices
The January 31 report relayed forecasts that tariffs could put pressure on fertilizer and avocado prices. Those were contemporaneous predictions, not evidence that later price changes occurred or were caused by the tariffs. The materials available here do not establish an independently sourced economic outcome statistic.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Ensure your device supports eSIM, as no physical SIM card is included. There will be no physical package delivery; Activation code will be sent via email or text message.
- Unlimited high-speed data in U.S(except Alaska, Tethering speed limited)
- Unlimited Calling within and between U.S, Canada and Mexico, Unlimited Text, Picture & Video Messages to over 210 countries from USA
- 5GB high-speed data in Canada&Mexico
- This sim card can extend to any use of days as your need
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
