The US Conference of Mayors (USCM) has urged President Donald Trump to cancel tariffs on Canada and Mexico, warning that these tariffs would severely impact US businesses and consumers. The White House confirmed on March 4 that the US government has officially imposed a 25 percent tariff on all imports from its two leading trading partners.
Andrew Ginther, USCM President and Mayor of Columbus, emphasized that US cities and their residents have greatly benefited from strong trade relations with Canada and Mexico. He highlighted that mayors had supported Trump's US-Canada-Mexico trade agreement in 2020, which aimed to strengthen and rebalance trade across North America. Ginther pointed out that these economic ties have created millions of jobs and provided significant economic opportunities for US businesses. In contrast, he warned that these new tariffs would likely lead to economic stagnation, risk jobs, and put severe pressure on the cost of living. Municipal costs, such as those for infrastructure maintenance, affordable housing, and energy use, would also rise across the country, he noted.
The USCM's statement argued that these tariffs would disrupt supply chains, increase costs for US businesses, and raise prices for consumers. Retaliation from Canada and Mexico could further harm US exporters, especially small and medium-sized businesses that depend on international markets. The tariffs would disproportionately affect industries ranging from manufacturing and agriculture to automotive.
According to recent data from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), total US trade with Canada and Mexico reached $1.6 trillion in 2024.
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