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What’s About to Get More Expensive? Tariffs on Mexico, China & Canada Hit Hard

American consumers and businesses face rising costs due to new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada.

Published

3 months ago

March 4, 2025

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United States: American consumers and businesses are poised to bear significant financial burdens due to the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on the nation’s three largest trading partners.

With only a narrow exemption granted for select Canadian energy products, nearly all goods imported from these three nations are now subject to steep tariffs—20 percent in the case of China and 25 percent for both Mexico and Canada.

While the immediate impact of these import levies may not be fully apparent, their ripple effects will inevitably drive up prices across a broad spectrum of products. Given that over 40% of last year’s total US imports originated from the affected countries, the inflationary consequences could be substantial, according to reports by CNN.

The magnitude and timing of these price hikes will largely depend on whether businesses choose to absorb the increased costs, restructure supply chains to mitigate expenses or rely on existing inventories to delay passing costs onto consumers.

Areas Where the Impact Will Be Most Pronounced:

Food

Both Mexico and Canada serve as crucial suppliers of key food commodities. Mexico dominates as the primary provider of fresh fruits and vegetables to the United States, while Canada leads in the exportation of grains, livestock, poultry, and various meats.

These agricultural imports are particularly vulnerable to price surges, as grocery retailers operate on narrow profit margins, leaving little room to absorb heightened tariff costs. Consequently, the added expenses will likely be transferred to consumers.

Target CEO Brian Cornell, in an interview with CNBC, indicated that the tariffs on Mexico could necessitate immediate price increases on produce, particularly during the winter months when the company heavily relies on Mexican imports.

“While we’ll attempt to cushion the impact, consumers will almost certainly notice price hikes in the coming days,” Cornell remarked.

Despite the US historically exporting more agricultural products than it imports, the past decade has seen the value of imports accelerate at a greater rate than exports, per data from the US Department of Agriculture. Climate change has further reinforced reliance on Mexico, where more favorable growing conditions ensure a steady supply of produce.

According to USDA statistics, the US imported USD 46 billion worth of agricultural goods from Mexico last year, including USD 8.3 billion in fresh vegetables, USD 5.9 billion in beer, and USD 5 billion in distilled spirits. The single largest category was fresh fruits, with imports totaling USD 9 billion—of which avocados alone accounted for USD 3.1 billion, as per CNN.

Beyond these existing tariffs, Trump has also floated the idea of additional duties on agricultural imports, which could exacerbate food price increases even further.

Electronics, Toys, and Home Appliances

Consumer electronics remain among the most heavily imported goods from China. Items such as smartphones, televisions, laptops, gaming consoles, and essential components for these devices are all significantly reliant on Chinese manufacturing.

China also dominates as a primary supplier of household appliances. In addition, toys and footwear are particularly susceptible to the tariff regime.

According to the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America, a staggering 99% of shoes sold in the US are imported, with over half—56 percent—originating from China.

Similarly, the US is highly dependent on China for toys and sports equipment, including footballs, soccer balls, and baseballs. A full 75 percent of the nation’s toy and sports equipment imports are sourced from China, underscoring the difficulty of shifting production elsewhere in the short term.

Automobiles and Auto Components

Modern automobiles are no longer exclusively manufactured within US borders; many vehicles rely on parts that cross between Mexico and Canada multiple times before final assembly. The North American auto industry has long benefited from a fluid, integrated supply chain within what was previously a free trade zone.

Peter Nagle, an automotive economist with S&P Global Mobility, underscored the near-universal impact of tariffs on the industry. “Virtually no vehicle currently on the market will escape the effect of these tariffs,” Nagle told CNN. “I anticipate that price adjustments will begin within one to two weeks of the tariffs taking effect,” according to CNN.

A study by the Anderson Economic Group, a Michigan-based think tank, estimates that production costs for vehicles manufactured in North America will escalate by USD 3,500 to USD 12,000 per unit. As a result, some lower-cost models may be discontinued, leading to potential job losses across the industry.

Patrick Anderson, the think tank’s CEO, warned of substantial shifts within the automotive sector. “Manufacturers will likely cease production of certain models altogether,” Anderson stated. He also dismissed Trump’s assertion that automakers would swiftly relocate production to the US, noting that such a move would be exorbitantly costly and could take years to materialize.

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‘Take It Down Act’ Targets Online Abuse, Backed by First Lady

New law demands quick removal of non-consensual explicit content online. Melania Trump leads charge to protect teens from digital abuse and AI deepfakes.

Published

3 hours ago

May 20, 2025

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United States: On Monday, the president and first lady gathered in the White House Rose Garden so he could sign a new law addressing revenge porn which was championed by the first lady.

“I want to thank my husband, President Trump, for standing with us on this effort,” Melania Trump stated, with a riot of pink roses in bloom behind her.

What is the Take It Down Act?

The bill, known as the Take It Down Act, commands social media platforms to promptly take down sexually explicit pictures and videos of others, including “deepfakes,” if they were uploaded without consent. It was created to support teen survivors.

Melania Trump’s Mission to Protect Teens

“Artificial Intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation — sweet, addictive and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children,” the first lady stated, the New York Times reported.

“But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized, shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly,” she added.

This guide focuses on teenage victims of FGM. Mrs. Trump was determined to get the bill passed from the day of her husband’s second inauguration, the day Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, first mentioned it over lunch.

Like Be Best, Mrs. Trump’s anti-cyberbullying effort from the previous four years, the bill was a great fit for the first couple’s focus on battling digital meanness.

Early in March, she visited Washington to lead a roundtable with girls who had fallen victim to online attacks and the father of a young boy who left the world because of internet “sextortion.”

The event was emotional at times, and after it was over, Mrs. Trump took some of the guests to see the president address Congress the next day, where he discussed the bill, the New York Times reported.

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Terror on US Soil—FBI Probes Bombing at Medical Center

A deadly car bomb exploded outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, killing one and injuring four. The FBI has declared the blast an act of terrorism and launched a full-scale investigation.

Published

1 day ago

May 19, 2025

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United States: In a shocking incident that has rocked Palm Springs, California, the FBI has declared a recent car explosion an act of terrorism.

Deadly Blast Rocks Palm Springs Clinic

The blast occurred outside the American Reproductive Centers, a local fertility clinic, claiming one life and leaving four others injured.

The explosion, which originated from a vehicle parked near the facility, tore through the area with devastating force.

Emergency services quickly responded to the scene. Fortunately, no patients or clinic staff inside the building were harmed, although structural damage was reported.

🚨 NEW: Preliminary OSINT Brief – Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Bombing (May 17, 2025)
This morning’s explosion at American Reproductive Centers marks the first major anti-IVF terror attack in U.S. history
Here’s what we know—and what we’re watching. 🧵
🔗 https://t.co/GZeSw0S4Gr
— Prime Rogue Inc (@PrimeRogueInc) May 17, 2025

FBI Labels It Terrorism

According to federal investigators, the FBI is leading the probe alongside local authorities and has already identified a person of interest connected to the case. Officials are now working to determine whether this act of violence was domestic or internationally inspired, though no official group or motive has yet been confirmed.

This incident raises immediate concerns about the security of medical facilities and public areas across the US, especially amid rising tensions both at home and abroad.

The FBI has assured the public that it is deploying all necessary resources to fully investigate the matter and ensure there are no further threats.

Local law enforcement has increased patrols around critical infrastructure and public health facilities while urging citizens to report any suspicious activity.

As the investigation continues, authorities emphasize the importance of community vigilance and staying informed through official updates.

We will continue to follow this developing story closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Salman Rushdie’s Attacker Sentenced to 25 Years Behind Bars

Hadi Matar, who stabbed novelist Salman Rushdie in 2022, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, the maximum for attempted murder. Rushdie suffered severe injuries and is now partially blind from the attack.

Published

4 days ago

May 16, 2025

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United States: Hadi Matar, who attacked novelist Salman Rushdie last year, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison — the maximum for attempted murder.

Matar received a conviction for second-degree attempted murder for the attack on Rushdie in 2022 while they were both at the Chautauqua Institution in New York.

A man armed with a knife attacked Salman Rushdie as he was about to deliver a speech, inflicting injuries on the writer all over his body.

Rushdie suffered severe damage to the eyes and nerves and is now partially blind because of the attack, npr.org reported.

Rushdie wasn’t in the courtroom for Friday’s sentencing but wrote that he’s spent over 800 days in hospitals since the assault.

Judge David Foley additionally ordered Matar to serve 7 years in prison on the charge of causing serious bodily injury to the event moderator.

Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses created widespread outrage among many Muslims for its depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.

Just before his passing in 1989, the Ayatollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran, declared a legal judgment condemning Rushdie to death.

Prosecutors from the Western District of New York argued that Matar was attempting to carry out the threat contained in the fatwa.

Matar has affirmed that the fatwa didn’t inspire the attack but has explained to the New York Post that Rushdie had personally offended him by insulting Islam, npr.org reported.

Matar told reporters that he had skimmed over just a few pages of The Satanic Verses.