Summary

  • We've closed this live page, but we are continuing our live coverage here

  • Donald Trump says US tariffs on imports from the EU "will definitely happen" following similar moves targeting Canada, Mexico and China

  • He does not rule out imposing tariffs on UK goods and says the country is "out of line", but the situation "can be worked out" with PM Sir Keir Starmer who has "been very nice"

  • Trump says he will speak to Mexico and Canada's leaders on Monday. US tariffs of 25% on the two countries' goods, and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, are due to kick in from Tuesday

  • Canada and Mexico are set to impose retaliatory tariffs, while China will implement "corresponding countermeasures" and plans to file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization

  • Asian markets, the first ones to open since Trump's tariff announcements on the weekend, have tumbled significantly in an indication of investor uncertainty

  1. What is Trump doing today?published at 20:01 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    File photo of Donald Trump holding his thumbs up while walking at the golf course in Mar-a-Lago in December 2017Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    File photo of Donald Trump playing golf in Mar-a-Lago in December 2017

    As the world waits to see if the US imposes a new raft of tariffs, US President Donald Trump has been playing golf in Florida's West Palm Beach, near his private Mar-a-Lago estate, this morning.

    Canadian media is reporting that the Canadian government has received advanced notice of the plan to impose tariffs, with CBC reporting it expects the announcement to be made official this afternoon.

    But we are still waiting to hear from Trump's administration.

  2. Canadian tariffs will come into force on Tuesday - reportpublished at 19:45 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February
    Breaking

    Canadian public broadcaster CBC is reporting that US tariffs on imports from Canada will come into effect from Tuesday, 4 February.

    Citing a senior Canadian official who shared details of Trump's plan with CBC, the news organisation says it includes 25% tariffs on most goods coming from Canada into the US, along with 10% tariffs on Canadian energy products.

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to make an announcement at 18:00 local time (23:00 GMT), according to sources who spoke to CBC.

    We're still waiting for official word from the White House. Stick with us for the latest.

  3. Tariffs will help create a golden age, says Trump's economistpublished at 19:35 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    The US National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett says that tariffs are just one part of Trump's overall strategies to boost revenue.

    He recently told Fox Business: "When the people who are trying to cause panic over President Trump's trade policy simulate what it's going to do, they don't account for all the other policies. So President Trump is [saying] 'drill, baby, drill' and deregulate and tax cuts and reduce spending.

    "If you look at tariffs as part of an overall strategy you're going to see, as President Trump says, a golden age and it is going to be the biggest supply-side reform that America has ever seen."

  4. How exactly do tariffs work?published at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    In practical terms, a tariff is a domestic tax levied on goods as they enter the country, proportional to the value of the import.

    So a car imported to the US with a value of $50,000 (£38,000) subject to a 25% tariff, would face a $12,500 charge.

    The charge is physically paid by the US company that imports the goods, not the foreign company that exports them.

    The question of where the final "economic" burden of tariffs falls, as opposed to the upfront bill, is more complicated.

    If the US importing firm passes on the cost of the tariff to the person buying the product in the US in the form of higher retail prices, it would be the American consumer who bears the economic burden.

    If the US importing firm absorbs the cost of the tariff itself and doesn’t pass it on, then that firm is said to bear the economic burden in the form of lower profits than it would otherwise have enjoyed.

    Alternatively, it is possible that foreign exporters might have to lower their wholesale prices by the value of the tariff in order to retain their US customers.

    Read more about the effect of tariffs on US consumers here.

  5. Tariff announcement follows previous spat between US and Colombiapublished at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Gustavo Petro sits at a desk speaking into two microphones.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Gustavo Petro in New York last September

    Let’s take a quick look back now at events from last month - when tariff threats against Colombia were dispelled after the Colombian government agreed to allow US military flights carrying deported migrants to land.

    On Sunday, President Gustavo Petro stopped two military planes carrying Colombians deported from the US from landing.

    As a response, posting on his social platform Truth Social, Trump announced “emergency 25% tariffs” on all goods - to be raised to 50% “in one week”.

    Petro, in a post that remains pinned at the top of his X account, said they would in turn retaliate by imposing their own tariffs.

    A statement later released by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested Colombia had conceded to Trump’s terms.

    "Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again," the statement read, detailing that the drafted tariffs and sanctions would be "held in reserve".

    Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced that the two countries had "overcome the impasse".

    For more on this, you can read our story from the time.

  6. US business owner waiting for the ‘craziness’ to unfoldpublished at 18:34 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Natalie Sherman
    New York business reporter

    Nicolas Palazzi, founder of PM Spirits in Brooklyn, New YorkImage source, Doug Price
    Image caption,

    Nicolas Palazzi is the founder of Brooklyn-based PM Spirits

    Nicolas Palazzi, the founder of Brooklyn-based PM Spirits, imports around 20% of the spirits it sells from Mexico.

    A 25% tax on the bottles of mezcal, tequila and rum he brings in will push up prices and likely lead to a drop in sales among his customers.

    Palazzi says his suppliers in Mexico are nervous, many of whom are small, family-owned businesses that may not survive if tariffs are prolonged.

    “Is it going to be good for business? No," he tells the BBC. "Are sales going to slow down? Yes.”

    Uncertainty is high.“Is it for a day, is it a political flex or is it something that will last for four years?” he asks, adding that he will watch to see if President Donald Trump widens tariffs to other countries.

    Our strategy is roll-with-the-punches," he says. "Wait and see and adapt to whatever craziness is going to unfold."

  7. Tariffs: Not just a Trump policypublished at 18:09 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Jonathan Josephs
    BBC business reporter

    As we wait for an expected announcement on tariffs, it's worth remembering that when it comes to US-China trade, Trump is not the only reason the relationship is under strain.

    Yes, he kicked things off when he added tariffs on washing machines and solar panels a year into his first term and then steadily imposed more border taxes.

    However, under Joe Biden’s watch, the US added even more tariffs, as well as other trade restrictions.

    There was a big spate of tariffs in May, which were designed to make it more difficult and expensive for China to sell its electric vehicles, solar panels, computer chips and more in the US.

    It’s a demonstration that both sides of the US political divide, Republicans and Democrats, support a tough line on China over their perceptions that it is unfairly trying to dominate certain industries. Beijing, of course, denies that’s the case.

  8. Analysis

    The clock is ticking on tariffspublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Michelle Fleury
    BBC World News Correspondent

    While we're waiting to find out if Donald Trump's tariff talk is more than just talk, a couple of reminders:

    First, until there is an official implementation document outlining the timing and scope of tariffs and exclusions, everything else is bluster. Social media posts and statements don't count.

    That being said, the uncertainty is already bad enough. It's creating chaos for businesses. Companies are already putting off investment decisions and reconsidering their global supply chains due to concerns about trade disruptions.

    The economic damage of threats alone aren't substantial. But they're also not insignificant.

  9. How have Canada and Mexico responded?published at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Both Canada and Mexico have previously said they would respond to any imposed tariffs with measures of their own.

    They’ve also sought to reassure Trump about work under way to address border concerns. That includes Canada pledging more than C$1bn ($690m; £560m) to boost security at its shared border.

    Headshot of Claudia SheinbaumImage source, Reuters

    On Friday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the country was “prepared” but underlined they would act “with a cool head,” the Reuters news agency reported.

    "We will always defend the dignity of our people, respect for our sovereignty and a dialogue as equals without subordination,” she added.

    Justin Trudeau sits between two others speaking into a microphone. Canadian flags are draped behind himImage source, Reuters

    Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X yesterday that Canada is "ready" with a "forceful and immediate response".

    "No one - on either side of the border - wants to see American tariffs on Canadian goods," he said - following a meeting with the Canada-US Council.

  10. Is Trump about to ignite a trade war?published at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Good morning - over the next few hours we will be looking at a major announcement where President Donald Trump is expected to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China.

    The US president argues that such import taxes will boost the economy and leverage American power, but many analysts warn a trade war may stoke inflation in the US.

    The White House said on Friday that tariffs of 25% will be imposed on Mexico, 25% on Canada and 10% on China.

    Trump's press secretary said the duties would be part of the bid to tackle immigration and the quantity of fentanyl, a potent drug, crossing US borders.

    Trump said on Friday that Canadian oil would be hit with lower tariffs of 10%, which could take effect later, on 18 February.

    The president also said he planned to impose tariffs on the European Union in the future, accusing the bloc of not treating the US well.

    We plan to bring you the latest developments, analysis and reaction here in this page so make sure to keep checking in with us.