Policy Brief: Mexico, Canada Tariff Threats Signal Shift Toward Geoeconomics and Executive Power

Trump demonstrated that he will use tariffs as a key geoeconomic tool and will use executive actions and a broad interpretation of executive authority to achieve his policy aims.

Key points

• Trump threatened tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada, prompting those countries to take actions to reduce illegal migration and the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

• Trump previewed this action in an announcement shortly after the election and in his trade policy memorandum issued on his first day in office.

• The tariffs episode ind…